New York, Feb 18, 2026, 07:55 (ET) — Premarket
- Ford shares ticked up roughly 0.1% in premarket action, hovering close to $14.13
- Ford’s $30,000 electric pickup, slated for a 2027 launch, is drawing investor scrutiny as new details emerge.
- Ford Motor Credit landed €1.5 billion in its latest euro-denominated notes offering.
Ford Motor (F.N) edged 0.1% higher to $14.13 ahead of the bell Wednesday—barely budging from where it finished Tuesday.
Investors are weighing if Ford can turn a profit with its upcoming electric vehicles, as the company quietly adjusts course. The automaker booked a hefty $11.1 billion net loss for the fourth quarter, hit by writedowns tied to its EV program. Looking ahead, Ford projects 2026 EBIT between $8 billion and $10 billion. (Reuters)
Ford’s turning to a lower-cost EV platform at the heart of its overhaul—a move executives aren’t sugarcoating. CEO Jim Farley described the push as “one of the most audacious and important projects” in the company’s history, according to Axios. (Axios)
Ford, in calls with reporters, detailed a slate of manufacturing tweaks intended to shave off both weight and costs from its pickup—among them, the use of “unicasting,” which swaps a tangle of small parts for large aluminum castings. Alan Clarke, who heads up EV programs at Ford, estimated the upcoming truck could end up “something like 27% lighter” than the top EV on offer right now. (Business Insider)
According to The Verge, Clarke’s crew has rolled out a “bounties” system, putting price tags on everything from roof tweaks to the size of the mirrors — little engineering changes, all assigned a dollar value. The report also points out that the platform relies on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, known for being a cheaper chemistry, and features a “zonal” wiring design that organizes electronics into clusters by section, cutting down on both wiring and onboard computers. (The Verge)
Ford hasn’t shared finalized specs or shown off the design for its midsize pickup yet, and the launch timing remains vague—sales won’t start before 2027. According to Car and Driver, Ford told reporters to look for first sales in 2027, adding that the new platform is being built for a wider lineup of EVs.
Ford Motor Credit disclosed in a regulatory filing it raised €750 million by selling 3.305% notes set to mature on May 17, 2029, and an additional €750 million in 4.087% notes coming due Feb. 17, 2033. (Cloudfront)
Bond investors keep a close eye on the finance arm, a frequent issuer, since any move in its borrowing costs tends to feed straight through to loan and lease rates. When those monthly payments climb—especially for pricey models—demand can take a hit.
Still, the risk hangs over Ford. Should the new truck show up heavier, more expensive, or with disappointing range, the numbers could sour quickly — leaving Ford to battle Tesla and cutthroat low-cost competitors in EVs with little margin for error.
Ford’s most recent annual report puts the company’s annual stockholder meeting on May 14. Before that, a 15-cent quarterly dividend lands March 2. (Fortune)
