In 2026, Ford is working on a new kind of electric pickup that could cost around $30,000. This project is happening at Ford’s secretive Electric Vehicle Development Center in Long Beach, California. Despite a tough environment for EVs in the US, with political and economic challenges, Ford is pushing forward with its plan to create a flexible, affordable electric truck platform that could change the game.

The Vision Behind Ford’s Electric Vehicle Center

Ford’s Electric Vehicle Development Center, or EVDC, is designed to be a special, almost secretive space where new electric vehicle ideas can be developed quickly. The facility is located in a plain-looking building near Long Beach Airport, but inside, it operates very differently from typical corporate offices. The goal is to speed up innovation and cut through the usual red tape that slows down big companies.

Ford has modeled its approach on the legendary “Skunk Works,” a division created by Lockheed Martin in the 1940s. The original Skunk Works was known for creating advanced aircraft like the U-2 and SR-71 spy planes, thanks to its focus on small, autonomous teams and rapid development. Ford’s EVDC follows similar principles, giving managers like Alan Clarke, who previously worked at Tesla, full control over projects to keep things agile and flexible.

How Ford Is Building Its Skunkworks Philosophy

The EVDC is intentionally kept small and separate from Ford’s main operations to foster innovation. It’s located a bit away from the company’s traditional offices, helping it stay independent. The team at Long Beach consists of around 350 employees, with additional staff from outside offices, making about 480 people in total. This small, focused team works on developing a modular electric vehicle platform called the “Universal Electric Vehicle,” which will underpin many future Ford EVs.

Following Kelly Johnson’s 14 rules for running a skunkworks, Ford emphasizes the importance of giving project leaders almost complete control. This approach allows the team to move fast, test ideas, and fix problems without getting bogged down in corporate bureaucracy. The leadership team at EVDC includes experienced engineers and managers, many with backgrounds at Tesla, who work closely together to push the project ahead.

This setup aims to rapidly develop and refine components and vehicle designs, enabling Ford to produce affordable EVs more quickly than traditional methods. The focus is on creating a flexible, scalable platform that can support a variety of electric trucks and SUVs, potentially bringing down costs significantly while maintaining quality and performance.

Inspired by

• https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/05/how-do-you-design-a-30000-electric-pickup-inside-fords-skunkworks/