Against China's Cheap Electric Car Domination, Ford Promises Affordable Electric Cars Can Attend 2027

JAKARTA American auto giant Ford Motor Company officially announced its plans to release an affordable electric vehicle (EV) line by 2027. This step was taken as a strategy to rival the dominance of Chinese EV manufacturers known for its cost-effective models.

This announcement was reported by Reuters, made on Monday, August 11, 2025, covering details regarding a medium-sized electric pickup truck that is targeted to have an initial price of around US$30,000 or equivalent to Rp488 million. The truck will be assembled at Ford's plant in Louisville, Kentucky, with an investment of nearly US$2 billion which will also retain at least 2,200 jobs.

Ford CEO Jim Farley admits that Chinese automakers such as BYD have set new standards in terms of EV production cost efficiency.

"This is a gamble. There are risks," he said while admitting the challenges faced in an effort to create successful affordable vehicles in the market.

For this purpose, Ford has formed a special team of experts from leading EV rivals, such as Tesla and Rivian, to develop these affordable models. The team, dubbed California-based "skunkworks", focuses on innovation to reduce production costs.

Ford's decision comes amid a shift in consumer interest, where affordability is one of the main factors in EV purchases. JD Power data shows that the average EV price in the US reached around US$47,000 (Rp765.5 million) in June, much higher than China's models which were sold only in the range of 10,000 to 25,000 US dollars (equivalent to Rp162 million-Rp407 million.

This strategic move also marks a major adjustment to Ford's EV plans. After previously experiencing billions of dollars in losses from its EV division, Ford is now prioritizing a smaller and more affordable model for the commuter market, a different strategy to its competitors such as General Motors launching EVs across segments.