The compact EV pickup market is heating up, and Ford is preparing to make a bold entrance. Earlier this year, Slate Auto revealed its upcoming bare-bones electric pickup with a focus on simplicity and low cost. But Ford’s chief EV, digital, and design officer, Doug Field, made it clear that The Blue Oval has a very different vision for its next-generation mid-size EV truck.

Field emphasized that Ford’s future pickup will not be a “stripped-down, old-school vehicle,” but rather a sleek, digital-first truck designed to compete globally, particularly against Chinese automakers. Built on Ford’s universal low-cost EV platform, the truck will feature a zonal electric architecture that reduces wiring and enables advanced digital experiences, including Ford’s hands-free BlueCruise system.

Early reports suggest the pickup will debut with a lithium iron-phosphate (LFP) battery offering 51 kWh of usable energy. LFP batteries are affordable, safer, and can charge to 100 percent without degradation worries. Ford may also offer nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery options for drivers seeking higher energy density. Impressively, the truck will reportedly be able to power a home for days, expanding its appeal as a versatile lifestyle and work vehicle.

Slated for production at the Louisville Assembly Plant in 2027, Ford’s EV pickup is expected to be closer in size to the Maverick than the Ranger, with interior space rivaling a Toyota RAV4. Performance will also be a highlight, with acceleration comparable to a Mustang EcoBoost. Offered exclusively as a four-door, the truck will include clever storage options such as a lockable bed without requiring roof or hitch racks. With a potential annual capacity of 190,000 units, and possibly reviving the Ranchero nameplate, this new EV pickup could reshape Ford’s place in the growing electric truck market.