Ford bets on US-made LFP packs to power a $30,000 EV pickup

Ford has begun assembling lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells at its Bluoval Battery Park in Michigan using CATL technology, making it the first US automaker to start mass-market LFP battery shipments. The cells will power Ford’s upcoming Universal Electric (UEV) midsize pickup, priced around $30,000 and due for 2027, with production centered at the Louisville plant. LFP cells are cheaper and lighter, enabling more interior space and lower ownership costs, and will also feed Ford’s energy storage business. The move prompts debates over Chinese tech, but Ford argues the plan supports affordable EVs and good jobs.