New York, Feb 19, 2026, 07:25 EST — Premarket
- Ford shares slipped roughly 2% in premarket trading after the company revealed fresh details about its affordable EV pickup initiative.
- The automaker is counting on lighter builds, sharper aerodynamics, and fresh manufacturing techniques as it aims for that $30,000 price point.
- Thursday brings a batch of U.S. data, while Ford’s results are up next on April 28.
Ford Motor (F.N) slipped roughly 2% before the bell on Thursday, with the stock touching $13.85. The move followed the company’s release of more engineering specs on its upcoming electric pickup, which Ford is targeting at a price point near $30,000. (Electrive)
This matters to investors, who’ve been watching for any hint Ford can cut EV production costs—not just slash sticker prices. The company is touting the pickup as the starting flag for an upcoming, budget-focused EV lineup set for 2027. That’s a ways off, especially in a market already showing signs of volatility. (Reuters)
Ford wants to cut costs by trimming down the vehicle itself and slimming the battery—the priciest component on most EVs. This “bounty” approach, as the company dubs it, turns incremental savings from weight and drag into hard cash. One executive didn’t mince words on the results: “To the air, it is no longer a truck.” (Car and Driver)
One major advantage comes from “unicasting”—that’s large aluminum castings taking the place of dozens of smaller parts, a process Tesla made famous (often called gigacasting). Alan Clarke, who previously worked at Tesla and is now at Ford, says their casting approach is shaving significant weight off upcoming EVs: “We think that compared to the best one on the market today, we’re something like 27% lighter.” (Business Insider)
Ford’s also flagged a more streamlined electrical system—think 48-volt capability for key functions and zonal layout to slash wiring and modules. According to Motor1, which quoted Ford, the new truck’s wiring harness is roughly 4,000 feet shorter than what you’ll find inside the Mustang Mach‑E. (Motor1)
Auto names split in early moves—General Motors (GM.N) climbed roughly 3%. Tesla (TSLA.O) barely budged.
Futures for major U.S. indexes slipped ahead of the open, traders keeping watch for Walmart’s numbers and the latest round of economic figures like jobless claims. (Reuters)
Even so, Ford’s budget pickup won’t be hitting showrooms for years, and the company hasn’t offered much on specs so far. Range, charging time, and what it’ll actually cost haven’t surfaced in recent briefings. If Ford stumbles on execution—or if competitors slash EV prices again—that $30,000 figure might end up sounding more like a pitch than a real sticker price.
Traders are eyeing upcoming U.S. economic data through the rest of the week, with Ford’s next quarterly report set for April 28. Investors are looking for updates on expenses and product launch timing in that release. (Q4Cdn)
