[Martinjlm]

Originally Posted by NW-99SS

Ford just invested 500 million in Rivian for an EV Pickup.

Well....yes and no. Ford did invest in Rivian, and agreed to a supply contract for the Rivian skateboard. They will NOT, however, be using it for the F-150 EV. The F-150 EV is already far along in development and Ford is not going to flush their investment.

I was on the media phone conference with Ford and Rivian. Jim Hackett stated several times that the Rivian skateboard would be used to support an "incremental product" in the Ford vehicle portfolio. Meaning that it would be used for something that was not yet in the product plan. The F-150 EV has been in the product plan for at least a couple years.

Another thing to consider...why would Rivian hand Ford the club to beat them over the head with? The supply agreement for the skateboard probably comes with a "do not compete" stipulation that would prevent Ford from using it on a product to compete directly with a Rivian product.

Hackett also responded to a reporter's question regarding where the vehicle would be sold. He said "North America". Another reporter followed up and asked if there would be other regions using it. He said that North America would be first but other regions would be considered down the road. He mentioned China, but did not mention Europe. This leads me to believe two possibilities are on the table....

1. A light duty commercial vehicle, like a Transit Van
2. Lincoln

The light duty commercial vehicle makes sense because it may not coincide with anything currently in the Ford portfolio. The "incremental product". Lincoln makes sense because it is primarily a North American brand. They are starting to make moves in China, but are way behind. Lincoln does not, to my knowledge, exist at all in Europe. That jibes with Hackett's response that North America would get it first, possibility of China getting it, but no mention of Europe.