Ford Ranger EV Will Launch at Some Point Before 2030: Report
At this point, it seems as if a Ford Ranger EV is inevitable, especially given recent comments from a Blue Oval exec.
It isn’t exactly a secret that the Ford F-150 Lightning won’t be the last all-electric pickup built by FoMoCo – in fact, CEO Jim Farley has already stated that a second EV pickup is in development, and that an all-electric F-Series of some sort will be built at the under-construction BlueOval City site. Many have speculated that a Ford Ranger EV is inevitable as well, even executives from Volkswagen, which formed a partnership with Ford a few years ago and is set to launch the new Amarok, which is based on the next-gen Ranger. Adding more fuel to the fire are comments made by Ford’s global chief financial officer, John Lawler at the Detroit Auto Show, according to Drive.
“Thailand is going to be a hub for manufacturing zero-emission vehicles,” Lawler said. “Ranger is a huge opportunity for us and it’s the cornerstone for us. It’s incredibly important to us. What I would say is that Ranger is a cornerstone for us globally. The majority of the markets where it is a number-one or number-two (seller), aren’t moving to electrification as quickly, but there are markets that are. “We haven’t announced anything, but what I really like about where we’re headed from an engineering and design standpoint.”
Lawler went on to say that any EV pickup brings “great possibilities” because of “the freedoms of not having the constraints of an engine.”
“So whether it’s Ranger or there are other possibilities to bring and expand (our electric vehicle portfolio) globally, we will do that. So watch this space.”
Ford Thailand Manufacturing was actually the very first plant to begin producing and shipping the next-generation Ranger to various markets around the globe, and the automaker has invested heavily in that site to modernize the facility. Thus, it makes sense that FoMoCo will soon use it to churn out zero-emissions vehicles, particularly a Ford Ranger EV.
In the shorter term, a plug-in hybrid version of the Ranger is expected to launch in the coming years, which will serve as a stepping stone to the all-electric model. However, Ford reportedly has high hopes for the EV pickup, which it thinks will eventually make up one-third of global sales by 2030, which would be an impressive feat given that truck’s popularity around the globe.
Photos: Ford
Join the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forums now!
