Ford Sets Aug. 11 ‘Model T’ EV Strategy Reveal to Counter Chinese Rivals

Ford Motor Co. plans to unveil a new electric-vehicle strategy at an Aug. 11 event in Kentucky that Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley calls a “Model T moment,” invoking the company’s original breakthrough in affordable mass-market cars. The initiative centers on a low-cost EV platform designed by a skunkworks team led by former Tesla engineer Alan Clarke. Ford says the architecture will support multiple body styles for retail and commercial buyers, with the first model—a mid-size pickup—scheduled for release in 2027. Farley said the plan is intended to counter the growing global presence of Chinese manufacturers such as Geely and BYD. The push comes as Ford’s EV division posted a $1.3 billion operating loss in the second quarter and braces for higher costs tied to U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.