American legacy automaker Ford confirmed plans to launch the yet-to-be-revealed Puma model in Australia in 2024 as an affordable electric SUV, Australian auto news platform reports.
The Ford Puma EV is apparently the fourth of the five proposed EVs to hit the Australian market by the end of 2024. It will join the company’s E-Transit, E-Transit Custom, and Mustang Mach-E, according to Ford Australia CEO Andrew Birkic.
“We will be bringing in a [fully-electric] Puma. We’re making some decisions around our line-up, and we believe that is the right investment for us.
Puma has done well. It continues to win awards. So, we know that that’s certainly an important play for us in the future.”
Ford Australia CEO Andrew Birkic stated during the latest electric Ford Transit media preview via Drive
Expectations for the Ford Puma EV
Unfortunately, America’s second-leading automaker has not yet revealed the new electric Puma’s exact pricing and launch schedule. It only noted that the EV would arrive in Australia by the end of next year.
For comparison, the ICE vehicle counterpart of the Ford Puma costs approximately $35,000 to $41,000 drive-away. That considered, the electrified version may have a price premium.
Nonetheless, Puma EV is expected to be Ford’s smallest and cheapest electric offering for the Australian market. However, considering its size and city-focused build, it might rival BYD Atto 3, GWM Ora, and the forthcoming Fiat 500e and MG4, with prices hovering at about $50,000.
Furthermore, Ford has not also yet disclosed the specifics of the highly awaited Ford Puma EV. Nonetheless, experts suggest that the automaker will likely modify the architecture that supports the gasoline-powered versions than utilizing a custom EV architecture.
Another intriguing speculation is that Ford might possibly discontinue Puma’s gasoline-powered models sooner than expected. It is also worth mentioning that the automaker has previously announced plans to phase out the Escape SUV as part of its strategy to be an all-electric brand by the decade’s end.
