Is this T3? August 11th "Model T moment" for Ford says Jim Farley

[Shmoe]

https://insideevs.com/news/767532/ford-ev-reveal-model-t-moment-august-11/

Ford reported an $800 million impact from the Trump administration’s tariffs in the second quarter, per its earnings deck released on Wednesday. But the biggest news from the report is that it will reveal more about its future electric vehicle plans next month.

“August 11 will be a big day for all of us at Ford,” CEO Jim Farley said on Wednesday during the automaker's second-quarter earnings call. “We will be in Kentucky to share more about our plans to design and build a breakthrough electric vehicle and a platform in the U.S."

“This is a Model T moment for us at Ford,” Farley said, referring to Ford's pioneering vehicle of the early 1900s. It was one of the earliest mass-produced, affordable cars and put America on wheels.

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[TaxmanHog]

For the masses, likely an economy / mid-size class EV that 'regular' income families could afford.

Not a sports car, not a truck, not a commercial vehicle ..... JMHO.

 

[Monkey]

I think Ford is positioning something that is going to go head to head with the new Tesla low-cost EV, which is a stripped-down and streamlined Model Y.

 

[Scorpio3d]

Agreed!
This is a low cost EV platform that Ford will use to create a few different variants of vehicles. They currently do the same thing (platform, wise)with the Maverick, escape, bronco.

 

[Vulnox]

Agreed!
This is a low cost EV platform that Ford will use to create a few different variants of vehicles. They currently do the same thing (platform, wise)with the Maverick, escape, bronco.

That’s the part that may be more exciting. I see so many asking for a Maverick BEV. Kind of see it with the Scout EV talk. If Ford came out and ate their lunch that would certainly be a shift.

It may end up being another two row crossover, but I would hope they wouldn’t be using phrases like “Model T moment” to describe a Blazer EV competitor.

 

[Lytning]

“A Model T moment” … does that mean you can order any color you want as long as it is Black?

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Don't look at me, I have no beans to spill.

 

[hturnerfamily]

I, personally, don't think they'll ever be a 'low-cost' EV... there are too many costs involved in producing ANY vehicle, much less an EV... and even defining 'low-cost' is problematic...

EVs and their infrastructure are not the same as gas vehicles, either - 100 years of infrastructure of gas stations, engine shops, and 'fast oil change' options have brought gas vehicles into an easy trend, and there is no need to 'plug in' at home...

EVs on the other hand, at least in order to produce the best 'low-cost' outcome, can have inherent issues for those needing to 'plug in' ... when they live in places where it's not easy to reach an outlet, when parked.
-Street parking is not going to make for an easy EV ownership, either.
-Apartment parking is also not typically set up for charging.
-Even those with 'homes' don't find installing a 240v outlet an easy or low-cost option.

It's not just the 'car', it's the environment needed to make it work best.

Tesla or Ford or anybody can mass produce 'cheap' EVs, but that in itself is a pie-in-the-sky mentality, at least from a profit standpoint.
Batteries are expensive.
Car building is expensive.
Those employees building cars also don't want low-cost wages.

There are also reasons why 'cheap' models from most every manufacturer aren't the best selling models, with few exceptions:
- Chevy Trax, starting at $20,500? ... how about the BOLT EV, no longer offered?
- Ford Escape, starting at $29,915? ... a hybrid, the Maverick, at $28,145?
- Kia Soul, starting at $20,490? ... a K4 sedan, at $24,990?
- Hyundai Venue, starting at $20,200? ... or the Kona, at $24,550?
- Honda Civic, $24,595?
- Toyota Corolla, $22,325?
- Nissan Versa @ $17,190? .... or Kicks, $21,520? or Sentra $21,590?
- Mazda 3 $25,150?
- VW Jetta $22,995?

There is also the element that many conversations easily overlook: we typically like big cars...
2024 Top Bestselling Vehicles:
Ford F-150
Toyota RAV4
Honda CR-V
Chevrolet Silverado
Tesla Model Y

 

[Henry Ford]

I think Ford is positioning something that is going to go head to head with the new Tesla low-cost EV, which is a stripped-down and streamlined Model Y.

The model Y is already stripped-down and streamlined. The announcement of a "new car" coincided a 45% drop in TSLA over five months. It was a cynical attempt to stem the bleeding. And it kind of worked...

 

[sotek2345]

“A Model T moment” … does that mean you can order any color you want as long as it is Black?

Nah - they upgraded. You can get it in any shade of grey you want!

 

[Ish]

Don't look at me, I have no beans to spill.

That implies there is tea to spill…

 

[chl]

I, personally, don't think they'll ever be a 'low-cost' EV... there are too many costs involved in producing ANY vehicle, much less an EV... and even defining 'low-cost' is problematic...

EVs and their infrastructure are not the same as gas vehicles, either - 100 years of infrastructure of gas stations, engine shops, and 'fast oil change' options have brought gas vehicles into an easy trend, and there is no need to 'plug in' at home...

EVs on the other hand, at least in order to produce the best 'low-cost' outcome, can have inherent issues for those needing to 'plug in' ... when they live in places where it's not easy to reach an outlet, when parked.
-Street parking is not going to make for an easy EV ownership, either.
-Apartment parking is also not typically set up for charging.
-Even those with 'homes' don't find installing a 240v outlet an easy or low-cost option.

It's not just the 'car', it's the environment needed to make it work best.

Tesla or Ford or anybody can mass produce 'cheap' EVs, but that in itself is a pie-in-the-sky mentality, at least from a profit standpoint.
Batteries are expensive.
Car building is expensive.
Those employees building cars also don't want low-cost wages.

There are also reasons why 'cheap' models from most every manufacturer aren't the best selling models, with few exceptions:
- Chevy Trax, starting at $20,500? ... how about the BOLT EV, no longer offered?
- Ford Escape, starting at $29,915? ... a hybrid, the Maverick, at $28,145?
- Kia Soul, starting at $20,490? ... a K4 sedan, at $24,990?
- Hyundai Venue, starting at $20,200? ... or the Kona, at $24,550?
- Honda Civic, $24,595?
- Toyota Corolla, $22,325?
- Nissan Versa @ $17,190? .... or Kicks, $21,520? or Sentra $21,590?
- Mazda 3 $25,150?
- VW Jetta $22,995?

There is also the element that many conversations easily overlook: we typically like big cars...
2024 Top Bestselling Vehicles:
Ford F-150
Toyota RAV4
Honda CR-V
Chevrolet Silverado
Tesla Model Y

Never a 'low cost" EV?
If you mean one made in America, I tend to agree.

But...China already has inexpensive EVs, and they are selling them practically everywhere EXCEPT the USA.

See: https://heatmap.news/electric-vehic...ld-is-actually-better-than-all-the-better-evs

The oil embargo of the early 1970's shocked the American public into buying smaller more fuel efficient vehicles almost overnight. Japan jumped in to meet the demand and US automakers were caught flat-footed.

The threat of global climate change has not seemed to have had as immediate of an effect on the driving public, but the awareness may be gaining momentum. The Tesla Model 3 is in the top 25 best selling cars in 2025 so far (per Car and Driver https://www.caranddriver.com/news/g64457986/bestselling-cars-2025/ ).

If not for trade barriers meant to support US companies and jobs, Americans would have the ability to buy "low cost" EVs from China, as well as 'low cost' solar panels.

Ford F-series (ICE) trucks are so far the best selling vehicle in the US in 2025. These are not 'low cost' vehicles by any stretch of the imagination.

A low cost EV equivalent to the F-series would likely be competitive if the EV supporting infrastructure were widespread.

The 100 years of gas station infrastructure didn't happen overnight. The oil and gas industry was and is heavily subsidized by our federal tax dollars.

If the US continues down this path of clinging to 20th century carbon-based propulsion, we will be left behind by the rest of the world.

Because we have the best politicians money (oil money) can buy, changing to EVs will have to have a grass roots movement leading the way. We have to let auto manufacturers know what we want.

There was overwhelming demand for an EV pickup truck in the $39k starting price range when the cybertruck was announced. Ford originally announced the Lightning in the same price range. The supply chain shut down during COVID skewed that price point up, and demand fell.

Hopefully this Ford announcement will show that Ford got the message that there is a strong demand for EVs IF they are affordable by the masses.

I mean it is ECON 101 after all.

 

[Pitbull2o08]

A “model t” Moment would be something like an EVTOL.

 

[Tex]

I predict it will be about battery tech

 

[Tex]

Tesla stock dump had everything to do with Elon’s politics.

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