Ford (F) assembled a “super-talented skunk works team” to build a low-cost EV platform. The small team consisted of “some of the best EV engineers in the world,” according to Ford’s CEO Jim Farley. It will be used to launch several new software-defined electric models.
Ford is “secretly” developing a low-cost EV platform
Following Tuesday’s Q4 and full-year 2023 earnings results, Farley explained that Ford is adjusting its capital while switching gears to focus on smaller EVs.
Ford’s leader said on the company’s earnings call that the company made a bet in silence two years ago to develop a low-cost EV platform. Ford put together a small team with “some of the best EV engineers in the world.” The project was separate from Ford’s main operations.
Farley described it as “a start-up.” The team developed a flexible platform that will be used to launch several types of vehicles (is an electric Maverick finally coming?).
Not only that, but it will “be a large installed base for software and service,” as seen at Pro, its commercial unit.
The move to launch affordable EVs comes as several rivals announced they will do the same. Farley said Ford’s “ultimate competition is going to be affordable Tesla and the Chinese OEMs.”
Ford F-150 Lightning production at Rouge EV plant (Source: Ford)
According to Ford’s CEO, customers are unwilling to pay a significant premium for EVs. For this reason, Ford is leaning into hybrids as a bridge to its next-gen electric models.
Slowing EV investments and pace
Ford’s Model e electric vehicle business lost $4.7 billion last year. The company said growing losses were due to “extremely competitive pricing” and investments for its next-gen electric models.
Ford Q4 Model e earnings (Source: Ford)
Although EV volume was up 20% (mainly from the F-150 Lightning), Ford lost about $47,000 per EV built in the last three months of 2023.
Meanwhile, Ford’s hands-free BlueCruise driving passed 150 million miles, up 25% from Q3. BlueCruise gross margins are at +70% as Ford doubles down on software-defined vehicles.
Ford electric Explorer SUV (Source: Ford)
Ford Pro is a nearly “$60 billion high-margin hardware, software, and physical services business” with mostly recurring revenue. The unit doubled its operating profit to $7 billion last quarter and is on track for “mid-teen EBIT margins.”
Ford expects its Model e EV business to continue losing money with an operating loss of $5 to $5.5 billion this year.
Electrek’s Take
Ford’s move to develop a low-cost EV platform comes after several rivals, including Tesla, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Kia, Stellantis, and others, have announced similar plans.
The company is taking what it learned with its first-gen models to improve efficiency with new models rolling out.
Ford is launching the electric Explorer in Europe. It also plans to launch a new full-size electric truck and three-row SUV for the US market as part of its next-gen EV lineup.
Ford is coming off a record EV sales year, with the F-150 Lightning topping the Rivian R1T to become the best-selling electric pickup. The Mustang Mach-E was the second best-selling electric SUV behind Tesla’s Model Y, while the E-Transit was the top-selling electric van.
Despite the success, Ford is delaying around $12 billion in EV spending as it aligns production and inventory for customer demand.
A new platform for affordable EVs would likely greatly improve Ford’s ability to compete with EV leaders like Tesla and BYD.
In December, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk said that the upcoming low-cost Tesla model ($25,000) is “advanced” in development. The Tesla Model 3, its cheapest EV, starts at $38,990 (excluding incentives and savings).
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In a move that helps the brand duck protectionist anti-Chinese tariffs, Volvo Cars has switched production of its award-winning EX30 models destined for US roads from its Zhangjiakou plant in China to the Ghent facility in Belgium.
Volvo EX30 production began in the company’s Ghent factory back in April, but those first cars were earmarked for the Swedish domestic and European export markets, but that move wasn’t primarily motivated by avoiding tariffs. As Electrive reports, the company seemed happy enough to continue importing its small electric crossover from China and accepting the new 28.8% tariffs (up from 10%), but the wait times to get the vehicles shipped in from China was imply too long.
In 2024, Swedish and German buyers had to wait up to eight months for their EX30 in some cases, according to Volvo Cars’ European boss, Arek Nowinski, per Automotive News. Once production in Ghent is fully up to speed, however, wait times should be cut to about 90 days. Those wait times, and the price hike associated with the tariffs, have hurt sales of the originally Chinese-made Volvo EV. In 2024, for example, the EX30 ranked third in European EV sales, but slipped out of the top 10 first half of 2025.
“The car is now being built in Europe, which means faster delivery times,” Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson to Automotive News. “We should return to the sales and market share figures for the EX30 that we had before the introduction of tariffs.”
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Coming to Staying in America
Volvo EX30; via Volvo Cars.
The EX30’s switch to Ghent is good news for American fans of the compact, lickety-quick Volvo EV. Now that it’s no longer exclusively made in China, Volvo has decided to give it a stay of execution as it revamps its US product lineup to better align with market trends (read: SUVs) and the changing political landscape (read: tariffs and inflation).
The reason? The Made in China version of the EX30 would virtually unsellable in the US due to the implementation of 147% tariffs on vehicles imported from China. Vehicles imported from Europe, meanwhile, carry just 15% tariffs, keeping the EX30 in a competitive price bracket.
Expect to see both Ghent and South Carolina play an increasingly large role in Volvo’s US product mix – at least for the next three-odd years.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Volvo Cars, Automotive News, via Electrive.
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It featured four advanced electric motors with a combined power of nearly 1,300 horsepower. The U9 can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in just 2.36 seconds.
With a motor at each wheel and a highly advanced electric-air suspension, the U9 can turn on itself and even jump over potholes.
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But that was only the beginning.
Based on a new filing with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), BYD is preparing to launch a new ‘Track Edition’ of the Yangwang U9:
When an automaker releases a “track” version of a car, it typically primarily features body changes for better aerodynamic performance, adding downforce, and it will also often feature bigger brakes.
The Yangwang U9 ‘Track Edition’ appears to feature all that… and much more.
The filing reveals that BYD updated the motors at each wheel to a new 555 kW motor. That’s a higher-performing motor than in most performance electric vehicles. The U9 Track Edition has four of them for a total of 2,220 kW (3,019 hp).
I would have thought that this was a typo if it wasn’t for the insane electric vehicles coming out of China these days.
Here are a few pictures from the MIIT filing:
There are a lot of performance specs that are not included in the MIIT filing. Therefore, it will be interesting to see when the vehicle is fully unveiled and BYD reveals what kind of performance it can achieve with 3,000 hp packed in 4 electric motors.
Here are a few other features mentioned in the filing:
Standard features:
20-inch wheels with 325/35 R20 tyres
Carbon-fibre roof
Large fixed carbon-fibre rear wing
Rear diffuser with adjustable blades for aerodynamic optimisation
Optional aerodynamic parts:
Standard or enhanced carbon-fibre front splitter
Electric rear wing
Electrek’s Take
How are they going to keep that thing from flying away? Seriously.
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The eBike space is crowded in 2025, but the Kingbull Jumper Go stands out with a rare combination of features: a compact 20” frame, full suspension, a step-through design, and a powerful Class 3 motor capable of hitting high speeds. Whether you’re commuting through the city, riding off-road trails, or just looking for a versatile, approachable ride, the Jumper Go delivers serious performance, especially for the price.
Key specs
On paper, the Kingbull Jumper Go has all the hardware you would want and need for its size and price. It blends commuter-friendly features with the components you’d expect from more premium off-road eBikes. These specs on paper translate to real-world use amazingly. Here’s a quick rundown of the key specs:
Motor: 750W Bafang rear hub motor
Top Speed: 28 MPH with pedal assist (up to 40 MPH unlocked; check local laws)
Battery: 48V 20Ah Samsung removable battery
Max Range: Up to 80 miles per charge
Gearing: Shimano 8-speed drivetrain
Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc brakes
Suspension: Front 80mm fork + rear mid-frame air shock
Tires: 20” x 4.0” Kenda fat tires (puncture-resistant)
Frame: Step-through aluminum frame with internal cable routing
Display: Integrated LED display with speed, assist level, and battery status
Lighting: Integrated 48V headlight and rear brake light
Included Accessories: Rear cargo rack, full fenders, mini tool kit, zip ties, tire pump
Together, these features make the Kingbull Jumper Go a rare all-in-one package: powerful, approachable, and ready to handle daily commutes and adventures without compromise.
Real-world experience
I have been living with the Kingbull Jumper Go for two weeks now and have been using it as my daily driver. I have used it for pretty much everything, from small grocery runs, to running a quick errand, to just taking me from place to place. Here is what you need to know.
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The setup
The setup was surprisingly simple. The bike has everything needed for assembly, including a mini tool kit, zip ties, and even a tire pump. The Kingbull Jumper Go comes about 80% pre-assembled, with the rear tire and monitor intact. I had to install the front tire, front fender, handlebar, headlight, and seat. Assembly took roughly 20 minutes, and I am someone who does not do this often. It was great that I did not need any of my own tools to get the bike ready. The final thing I did was ensure it was fully charged before getting on it.
The ride
On the road, the 750W motor gives you quick acceleration and plenty of torque, easily handling hills and the urban terrain I live in. The five levels of pedal assist and throttle control give you full flexibility in how much effort you want to put in. I got the bike to almost 30mph with the pedal assist and to 22mph using the throttle. The suspension system, which features an 80mm front fork and a rear mid-air shock, makes city potholes and light off-road trails smooth and manageable.
I live in New Jersey, and if you know anything about our roads, they are terribly maintained and have potholes everywhere. The Kingbull Jumper Go kept the ride very smooth and managed those potholes perfectly. I also took it through some gravel roads, trails, and through some wet terrain, and it was great. The fat tires gives you a strong sense of confidence both on road and when you are dealing with a more challenging terrain.
The design
The step-through frame is especially helpful for beginners and for riders who are sharing this bike with someone who is a different height. The step-through frame also makes it easy to dismount or quickly react by easily putting your feet down without feeling like you are going to tip over.
The 20” Kenda fat tires provide great traction and comfort on surfaces ranging from pavement to grass and gravel. The Tektro hydraulic brakes are responsive and reliable, offering solid control even at higher speeds. You also get a fantastic LED display with real-time speed, distance traveled, and battery life. It is also plenty bright, so the display is easily visible even in the brightest conditions.
After riding this for two weeks in both urban and off-road settings, the Kingbull Jumper Go proved to be equally capable as a commuter eBike, urban cruiser, and all-terrain bike. Its compact frame makes it easier to handle and store compared to larger full-size fat-tire bikes, but without compromising on performance.
Kingbull Jumper Go Pricing and availability
The Kingbull Jumper Go is currently available through Kingbull’s official website for just under $1,699. However, they have a limited-time summer promotion offering $100 OFF with code Electrek, bringing the price down to $1,599. That discount makes it one of the best values on the market for a full-suspension, Class 3 fat-tire eBike. Kingbull’s 2-year warranty also backs it and offers local test ride availability in California, giving potential buyers added peace of mind and confidence in the brand.