After unveiling plans for a $30,000 electric truck, senior Ford executives told journalists it was the perfect launchpad for their new EV program. Trucks, they argued, make it easier to integrate certain features—even if those features aren’t used every day. But the EV market doesn’t follow the same rules as gas vehicles. Growth has been driven by crossovers and Ford isn’t ignoring that segment.
Welcome to Critical Materials, your daily round-up of news and events shaping the world of electric cars and technology. Also on my deck today: U.S. start-up Lyten has taken over bankrupt Swedish battery maker Northvolt’s assets, but it still has to convince buyers regarding its lithium-sulfur technology. And a California dealer group is suing the Sony-Honda joint venture for its direct-to-consumer sales plan. Let’s begin.
30%: Ford’s Electric Truck Will Be Followed By A Crossover
Photo by: Ford
Ford’s latest EV announcement has stirred equal parts skepticism and excitement. Earlier this month, the automaker unveiled plans for a $30,000 midsize electric truck, which it will build in Kentucky on a brand-new platform. Ford will assemble the truck using a radically different process, one that speeds up production, cuts costs and eases the strain on factory workers.
I was in Kentucky in early August when CEO Jim Farley spoke to workers at the Louisville Assembly Plant. He dismissed today’s EV efforts as a “college try.” He warned that Ford doesn’t want to be trapped in a cycle of “idled plants, layoffs and uncertainty.” And given the direction of the U.S. EV market so far, what comes after this truck may matter even more than the truck itself.
Electric trucks haven’t really taken off in the U.S. yet. But electric crossovers have. And among the first EVs to ride on Ford’s Universal EV Platform will be a small crossover in 2028, Automotive News first reported. Remember that this is a complete reversal of what Ford initially wanted to do with its next-generation EVs.
Farley had previously announced a “bullet train” three-row electric SUV—not an ideal comparison, bullet trains accelerate slowly, but have crazy top speeds. Ford shelved those plans last year. A full-size electric truck is also in the works, codenamed Project T3, which industry officials speculate will be the successor to the F-150 Lightning. The production of that model has been pushed back to 2028 from 2027.
Now, the focus is on affordable models first.
It’s unclear what the electric crossover will be called or what it will look like. But it’s not too hard to imagine what it could possibly be. Automotive News speculates an electric version of the Escape, whose production at the Louisville plant will end this year alongside its Lincoln Corsair twin. And Ford did not rule out a next-generation Mustang Mach-E, either.
Plus, Ford’s Chief EV, Digital and Design Officer Doug Field said during a media roundtable that the Universal EV Platform will support EVs “to start with,” leaving a possible gasoline range-extender powertrain on the table, something Farley previously said would suit a large SUV. And Ford did show an illustration of the new platform supporting a three-row SUV, so the big electric SUV may not be dead after all.
Obviously, a lot rides on the success of Ford’s $30,000 electric truck, but what comes after it could prove just as pivotal in defining the company’s EV future.
60%: This Company Is Betting On Lithium Sulfur Batteries
Photo by: Northvolt
Early this month, Silicon Valley start-up Lyten stepped in to take over the remaining assets of Northvolt, the now-bankrupt Swedish battery company.
Lyten is now in the process of taking over Northvolt’s assets in Sweden and Germany. This includes what the company claims is the largest battery R&D center in Europe, as well as Northvolt’s IPs and production facilities, which can churn out over 30 gigawatt-hours of battery manufacturing capacity.
Despite Lyten injecting new life into these plants and facilities, it’s unclear if buyers are still convinced, Reuters reported on Monday.
Here’s what the news wire said:
But customers and investors burned by the Northvolt experience remain wary of committing without seeing a proven product that can be delivered at scale, interviews with over a dozen battery industry experts, analysts and car company sources revealed.
A Stellantis spokesperson said any supply deals would depend on technical validation, industrial scale-up, local production capacity and commercial terms.
“In this respect, Northvolt’s successor would only be considered for a future battery cell project–that is still a long way off, and we cannot comment on it at this stage,” a BMW spokesperson said.
Lyten specializes in lithium-sulfur batteries, an area where it claims to have a significant lead in terms of development and technology, but remains unproven in the broader EV market. Lithium-sulfur batteries use sulfur as the cathode.
Sulfur is cheap, lightweight, and can, in theory, deliver a higher energy density than today’s lithium-ion batteries. But its quick degradation during charging, plus poor lifespan and stability, are lingering concerns.
With new battery chemistries constantly making headlines, automakers will need to watch them closely, but avoid betting on anything unproven, especially given how much nickel-based and iron-phosphate batteries have already advanced.
90%: Sony And Honda’s EV Plans Face Dealer Lawsuits
Photo by: Sony Honda Mobility
A future where you can lounge in your EV and fire up Fortnite on a PlayStation 5 connected to the dashboard isn’t far off.
The Afeela 1, the first model from Sony Honda Mobility, is slated to hit the market in mid-2026, with pilot production already underway at Honda’s East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio.
But before it reaches customers, the joint venture faces a legal roadblock. The California New Car Dealers Association has sued Sony Honda Mobility in Los Angeles, seeking to block its direct-to-consumer sales model, Nikkei reported Monday.
At the heart of the case is whether the venture qualifies as a Honda “affiliate,” a technicality that could decide if it can bypass traditional dealerships.
100%: What Excites You More, A Ford EV Crossover Or Truck?
Photo by: Ford
Ford is attempting something no automaker has done yet: Making electric trucks truly affordable. So far, the segment has remained pricey and niche in the U.S., especially compared with electric crossovers, which are exploding in popularity.
To win over buyers, the Dearborn automaker is borrowing crossover language, promising interior space on par with a Toyota RAV4, which is America’s best-selling SUV.
So that begs the question: Is an affordable electric truck the right place for Ford to start its next-gen EV push? Or would you rather wait for the crossover that follows?
Have a tip? Contact the author: Suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com
