New York, Feb 18, 2026, 07:55 (ET) — Premarket
- Ford shares were up about 0.1% in premarket trade, near $14.13
- Investors are parsing fresh detail on Ford’s planned $30,000 electric pickup due in 2027
- Ford Motor Credit tapped euro debt markets with a €1.5 billion notes sale
Ford Motor (F.N) shares inched up 0.1% to $14.13 in premarket trading on Wednesday, little changed from Tuesday’s close.
The quiet move comes as investors weigh whether Ford can make its next round of electric vehicles pay. The automaker posted a $11.1 billion fourth-quarter net loss after EV program writedowns and forecast 2026 earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of $8 billion to $10 billion. (Reuters)
Ford is leaning on a cheaper EV platform as the centerpiece of that reset, and management has framed it in blunt competitive terms. CEO Jim Farley called the effort “one of the most audacious and important projects” in Ford’s history, Axios reported. (Axios)
In briefings with reporters, Ford outlined manufacturing changes aimed at pulling cost and weight out of the pickup, including “unicasting” — using large aluminum castings to replace lots of smaller parts. Alan Clarke, Ford’s executive director for EV programs, said the truck should be “something like 27% lighter” than the best EV on the market today. (Business Insider)
The Verge reported Clarke’s team is using a “bounties” system that assigns dollar values to small engineering tweaks, from roof height to mirror size. It also said the platform uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries — a lower-cost chemistry — and a “zonal” wiring layout that groups electronics by area to reduce wiring and computers. (The Verge)
Ford has not released final specs or even a design for the midsize pickup, and the company has not pinned down an on-sale date beyond 2027. Car and Driver said Ford told reporters first sales are expected in 2027 and that the platform is meant to underpin a broader family of EVs. (Car and Driver)
On the funding side, Ford Motor Credit said in a regulatory filing that it issued and sold €750 million of 3.305% notes due May 17, 2029 and another €750 million of 4.087% notes due Feb. 17, 2033. (Cloudfront)
The finance arm is a regular borrower in bond markets. Investors watch it because financing costs can show up quickly in loan and lease rates, and higher monthly payments can pinch demand, especially for higher-priced vehicles.
But the risk case is still there. If the new truck lands heavier, pricier, or with weaker real-world range than planned, Ford’s cost math gets uglier fast — and the company would be trying to win share in EVs against Tesla and aggressive low-cost rivals without much room for missteps.
Ford’s annual meeting of stockholders is currently scheduled for May 14, its latest annual report said. The nearer marker is the 15-cent quarterly dividend payment due on March 2. (Fortune)
