Ford $30,000 EV pickup prototype (Source: Ford)
Ford is set to become the first to use LFP batteries in a mainstream EV in the US, starting with its $30,000 midsize pickup.
Ford begins LFP battery cell production in the US
The team at Ford’s Bluoval Battery Park in Michigan is now assembling lithium iron phosphate (LFP) prismatic cells to power its upcoming Universal Electric (UEV)-based models.
Using licensed battery and manufacturing tech from China’s CATL, Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, said the company delivered the first full cells on Tuesday, making it the first in the US to ship LFP batteries for mass-market automotive use.
The new battery cells will be used in Ford’s affordable midsize electric pickup, the first vehicle based on its UEV platform, and for its new energy storage business.
Ford is ramping up production as it prepares to launch the new EV pickup in 2027, which the company promises will be significantly more efficient, more affordable, and (for its sake) profitable.
Although the plant received pushback over Ford’s use of Chinese technology, Lisa Drake, the company’s vice president of platform programs and EV systems, defended the decision last summer, saying “to really deliver truly affordable electric vehicles,” the decision to build prismatic LFP batteries in the US was made years ago.
Drake added that “these are very good-paying jobs,” adding, “it would be a shame to build these facilities and then all of a sudden you have to scale back.”
The LFP battery cells are cheaper, lighter, and unlock more interior space. According to Ford, the midsize pickup will offer more passenger space than a Toyota RAV4 and a lower cost of ownership than a Tesla Model Y.
Ford testing upcoming $30,000 midsize electric pickup (Source: screenshot from Ford’s “secret” website)
Ahead of its official debut, a prototype was caught driving around Long Beach last week. A QR code hidden in the camouflage takes you to a “secret” website dedicated to the upcoming EV.
Ford will launch the electric pickup in 2027, starting at around $30,000. It will be assembled at the Louisville assembly plant with the first customer deliveries set to follow shortly thereafter.
Electrek’s Take
China dominates the global LFP battery market, leaving US automakers far behind thanks to the Trump Administration’s import tariffs and strict sourcing rules.
According to SNE Research, CATL and BYD, both of which primarily focus on LFP batteries, accounted for over 55% of global EV battery sales in 2025.
Of the 4.95 million tons of cathode materials shipped in 2025, LFP accounted for 3.47 million tons, or 72% of the market.
While Ford is betting on LFP batteries for a comeback, crosstown rival GM is reconsidering using them in future EVs, according to a recent Reuters report.
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