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George Pearkes @peark.es

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“This is a Model T moment for the company,” Farley told analysts last month, invoking the car that put Ford on the map a century ago. “We believe the only way to really compete effectively with the Chinese over the globe on EVs is to go and really push ourselves to radically re-engineer and transform our engineering supply chain and manufacturing process.” The push includes a new, $2 billion investment to convert Ford’s factory in Louisville, Kentucky, from producing gasoline-fueled Escape SUVs, a model it is discontinuing, to manufacture the new EV line. The battery-powered models will take 40% less time to build and require 600 fewer workers than the Escape thanks to an efficient design that was led by former Tesla Inc. executive Alan Clarke in what Ford called a skunk-works project in California. The Louisville plant will employ 2,200 hourly workers to build the EV line, down from 2,800, the company said. The new models will have more interior room and advanced features, such as hands-free driving. They will be powered by lower-cost lithium iron phosphate, or LFP, batteries Ford is to begin building next year at a new $3 billion battery plant in Marshall, Michigan, the company said. Despite Ford’s embrace of smaller, more affordable EVs, the automaker is still moving forward with plans for a successor to the F-150 Lightning full-size pickup. The automaker has repeatedly delayed its next generation electric F-Series truck and has now pushed its launch to mid-2028, from late 2027, according to a person familiar with the change.
aug 11, 2025, 2:33 pm • 40 3

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George Pearkes @peark.es

Livestream is touting - multiple-stream assembly instead of one linear assembly line - unicasting of major components - LFP batteries

aug 11, 2025, 2:50 pm • 26 0 • view
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George Pearkes @peark.es

New assembly process: - half of the components - 2/3rds fewer welds - 4k ft less wiring "If we can pull this off, you will never put an instrument panel or a seat through a door again" "This way of assembling a vehicle is the first time anyone in the world has done this"

aug 11, 2025, 2:52 pm • 45 2 • view
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George Pearkes @peark.es

"EVs are the best product by far for the customers we're going after"

aug 11, 2025, 2:53 pm • 54 1 • view
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Jason @peregrine.bsky.social

Wild how this could have been a musk presentation 6 years ago. unicasting, wiring harness reudction, skateboards, fewer components.

aug 11, 2025, 2:56 pm • 9 0 • view
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Jason @peregrine.bsky.social

UAW being there is where this diverges haha

aug 11, 2025, 2:58 pm • 8 0 • view
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Informed Takes @peebsy0.bsky.social

They're playing catch up and we are supposed to celebrate them? 🥳

aug 11, 2025, 2:53 pm • 0 0 • view
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EconReporter @econreporter.bsky.social

i would love a Branco EV

aug 11, 2025, 2:35 pm • 6 0 • view
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garyndunbar.bsky.social @garyndunbar.bsky.social

Farley seems much more aware of how US carmakers are being passed by the Chinese than the GM or Stellantis CEOs

aug 11, 2025, 2:40 pm • 5 0 • view
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George Pearkes @peark.es

yes he's hyper-focused on it

aug 11, 2025, 2:41 pm • 2 0 • view