On Monday, Ford CEO Jim Farley referred to the upcoming seven-passenger all-electric SUV from the automaker as his “own personal bullet train.” This follows his earlier comparison of the upcoming electric truck, Project T3, to the Millennium Falcon. Both vehicles are set to debut in 2025 as precursors to Ford’s Generation 2 EV architecture. During Ford’s Capital Markets Day on Monday, Farley and Chief Product Development and CTO Doug Field explained to shareholders what will make these next-generation Model E electric vehicles special.
Field characterized Ford’s first-generation electric vehicles as a “rudimentary effort,” emphasizing the small investment and teams pushing against a larger organization still not fully embracing electric vehicles. Despite this, he acknowledged them as “great products” and part of why he joined Ford from Tesla.
With the F-150 Lightning, Field explained that Ford went beyond simply electrifying the F-150; it surpassed most sports cars in acceleration, offered more power than most sedans, and redefined its position in the home backup power market. Field emphasized that the upcoming Generation 2 products would go much further, focusing on areas where Ford believes it can win.
Field explained that the Generation 2 products would start with a full-size pickup truck and a three-row SUV, both arriving in 2025, and would be “innovative” and different from anything customers have seen before. He ruled out the possibility of converting existing models like the Expedition into an EV, emphasizing that a large EV with 300 miles of highway range would require a large, expensive, and heavy battery pack, making it less competitive.
Field stated, “There’s a bit of an arms race in the industry to stuff larger and larger batteries into large electric vehicles to try to make them like ICE vehicles. But the real battleground in electrification is efficiency.”
He described the Generation 2 three-row vehicle as a family EV with 350 miles of range from a 100 kWh battery pack, covering 300 miles at 70 mph. This would be achieved with a battery that is one-third smaller, lighter, and thousands of dollars less expensive, allowing Ford to reach three customers with the same amount of scarce battery raw materials.
Field highlighted the efficiency optimization, stating, “We optimized it rather than compromised it.” He mentioned changes in tire design, maximizing drivetrain efficiency, and focusing on aerodynamics during the design process. The result is a three-row family vehicle with extended range and a smaller, lighter battery pack.
He also mentioned that the Generation 2 EVs would feature a battery and charging system allowing for less than a 10-minute stop to gain 150 miles of range. The vehicle’s design would depart significantly from traditional SUVs, being longer, sleeker, quieter, and with an extremely spacious interior. Field emphasized that these vehicles would not only be innovative but also beautiful.
Field stated that the Generation 2 products would feature Ford’s next-generation software and hardware platform, enabling Level 3 autonomous driving functionality. These models would be high-volume production vehicles, with Farley confirming an anticipated annual production volume of 1.2 to 1.3 million units by the end of 2026.
The focus on efficiency, innovation, and optimizing rather than compromising indicates Ford’s commitment to making its next-generation electric vehicles stand out in the market. The unveiling of these Generation 2 products in 2025 is eagerly awaited, especially given Ford’s ambitious production volume targets.
