American legacy automaker Ford has just selected a new location for the development of its planned low-cost electric vehicle models.
According to the Long Beach Business Journal, Ford’s new headquarters in California will house its “Skunkworks” team to advance the development of its next-gen offerings for the mass market.
Ford chooses new hub for affordable EV development
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson proudly announced on social media platform X that Ford Motor Company has officially picked the city as the new home of its Advanced Electric Vehicle Development Center.
Notably, the mayor’s announcement occurred during his Grow Long Beach economic showcase on Wednesday.
Mayor Richardson further emphasized the city’s commitment to achieving a “zero-emission” future by advancing as an investment-friendly hub for clean energy tech companies.
“Here in Long Beach, we are driving full-throttle towards a zero-emission future. We’re working to make our city a global, sustainability-centered hub that attracts emerging companies, industries, and clean energy tech.”
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson
“Skunkworks” team to deliver competitive EVs
According to Ford’s EVs and Digital Systems Chief Officer Doug Field, the new facility that will house the “skunkworks” team is a “key part of our broader strategy to build the best electric vehicle and technology development teams in the world.”
The Ford executive further noted that the team is “developing vehicles that are as affordable as they are desirable,” further stimulating the excitement of fans and tech enthusiasts.
Ford aims to officially open the campus in early 2025. According to a company spokesperson, the center will feature two buildings that can eventually house up to 450 workers to aid the design of a “a low-cost, flexible electric vehicle platform.”
Leveraging tech talent and speeding up development process
Ford CEO Jim Farley disclosed during a February media call with investors that the company had been secretly developing a low-cost electric vehicle platform.
He even noted that the project’s small “skunkworks” team includes “some of the best EV engineers in the world.”
12-year Tesla veteran Alan Clarke is leading the team, which consists of former Rivian, Lucid, and Apple employees.
The Tesla rival also poached eVTOL industry talents from major companies like Archer Aviation, Joby, and Hyundai-led Supernal.
“They are engineering a completely different approach, a different product at a different cost with a much smaller battery and different chemistry.”
Ford CEO Jim Farley
The Skunkworks team is helping Ford deliver its promised low-cost electric vehicle models. These upcoming Ford EVs will ride on a new platform that is flexible and supportive of various vehicle types. All that said, it would be exciting to see how Ford fares in launching affordable models to compete in the highly competitive electric vehicle market.
