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Over a century ago, Henry Fords assembly line helped mass produce the Model T, setting a new standard for how to manufacture vehicles. Now, at its Louisville Assembly Plant, the Ford Motor Company will soon scrap that typical assembly line for a new manufacturing system. Doing so, the automaker says, will allow it to more efficiently build more affordable electric vehiclesstarting with a $30,000 mid-sized electric truck to launch in 2027.The new system, called the Ford Universal EV Platform, came out of a skunkworks team in California that the automaker established back in 2022. Its part of an effort to make Ford more competitive with Chinese EV companies like BYD, which have dominated the global EV space with affordable vehicles. Ford CEO Jim Farley has himself been a fan of Chinese EVs after driving one for months.A new Ford assembly line A typical assembly line follows one straight path. As the path progresses, workers add pieces so that a vehicle is constructed from beginning to end. The Ford Universal EV Platform turns that singular assembly line into a tree system with three branches. Workers will build the vehicle’s front, rear, and structural battery all on separate lines that run in parallel. (The structural battery includes the seats, consoles, and carpeting.) Then, the three branches will come together at the end, where workers will build out the vehicles interior. This system means assembly will be 40% faster than current products on the assembly line. It also reduces strain on workers, with less twisting, turning, bending, and reaching, Without the vehicle traveling down a single assembly line, Ford says workers now wont need to install a seat through a door opening, sit in a vehicle to install parts, or reach as much over a fender during the assembly process. The Universal EV Platform also requires fewer manufacturing parts. With this assembly method, parts are reduced 20% compared to a typical vehicle, including 25% fewer fasteners. There will also be 40% fewer workstations in the plant. For the electrical system, Ford has removed 4,000 feet of wiring, making it 22 pounds lighter and simpler to install. [Animation: Ford]The quest to build affordable EVsThe first vehicle to be built on Fords new Universal EV Platform will be a midsize electric truck with a targeted starting price of $30,000. That vehicle will be built at the Louisville Assembly Plant and will launch in 2027. Ford did not give full details on the vehicle, including EV range or battery charge time. The automaker did say it will be as quick as a Mustang EcoBoost, with more interior space than a Rav 4. It will have room for five seats, as well as a truck bed, frunk, and exportable power. It will offer, for the first time, fast charging. It will have amazing range. It can power your house for six days, Farley said at a live announcement on Monday from the Louisville plant. You don’t need a generator, you just buy this truck. This midsized electric truck is just the first type of vehicle that can be built on the new EV platform. This new manufacturing system will allow Ford to make a family of affordable electric vehicles with multiple body styles, the company says, that will be available both for U.S. and export markets. The prismatic lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries will also be assembled in Americanot imported from China, the company notesat Fords BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall, Michigan. American EV manufacturingFord is investing nearly $2 billion in the Louisville Assembly Plant to implement this new system; it will begin reconfiguring the plant for the new assembly line later this year. That plant will secure 2,200 hourly jobs. Currently, the Louisville Assembly Plant employs 2,800 hourly workers, meaning there will be 600 fewer jobs with this new assembly line. Some of those workers who may be ready to retire will take a buyout offer, and others may transfer to nearby Ford plants. The automaker says there are no plans for layoffs. But there is room to grow, the company adds, as the platform scales up in Louisville. The $2 billion to transform the Louisville plant is part of a $5 billion effort from Ford to overhaul its EV production. That includes $3 billion committed to the BlueOval Battery Park in Michigan, which will secure 1,700 jobs to assemble LFP batteries. Fords new Universal EV Platform is a bet the company is making, Farley says, on the future of EV production and on American manufacturing. There are no guarantees with this project,” he adds. There is risk. Farley called out competitors, saying Ford could have moved this project to South Korea or Japan for cheaper labor costs and access to lower cost suppliers. “But that’s not the way we do things at Ford,” he said.With the American automotive industry at a crossroads and Chinese EV competition getting only more intense, Ford needed a radical new approach. Farley calls this new EV platform a Model T Moment for Ford. Our goal was to put up affordable, unbelievably great product within reach of millions of Americans, built in the U.S. by U.S. workers, and not be imported, Farley says. Why hasnt anyone done that? Because its really, really hard. Shares of Ford Motor Co (NYSE: F) rose in early trading on Monday following the announcement, but were largely flat by midday. The stock is up more than 15% year to date.
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E-Commerce
Its common knowledge that garlic makes everything betterbut if youre cooking with a garlic press you bought from Ikea, its time to check the model and potentially look into a refund. The company just issued a voluntary recall on thousands of garlic presses due to a laceration or ingestion hazard. The recall, published on July 31 by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) includes about 43,830 Ikea garlic presses sold in the U.S. and another 10,700 sold in Canada. Heres what to know about the affected products: Which garlic press is being recalled? The product in question is the Ikea 365+ VÄRDEFULL garlic press, used to crush garlic cloves. The garlic press has a black rubber handle and zinc-coated garlic chamber, and affected models were sold for $8 at Ikea stores nationwide and online at IKEA.com from March 2024 through May 2025. According to the CPSC, only models with the Ikea logowhich can be found at the upper part of the handleare subject to the recall. Whats happened? Per an Ikea press release, the garlic presses are being recalled Due to a production error, identified after an internal investigation, indicating a risk of small metal pieces detaching during use and subsequently being ingested with food. Have any incidents been reported so far? Unfortunately, yes. The CPSC report notes that Ikea has received a total of 10 incident reports globally, including three reports of lacerations and finger splinters. No incidents or injuries have been reported in the U.S. thus far. What should I do if I own a recalled garlic press? If you own the Ikea 365+ VÄRDEFULL, stop using it immediately. The product can be returned to any Ikea location for a full refund, even without proof of purchase. Additionally, IKEA encourages customers to spread the word about this recall, especially if they know that the recalled product was offered, lent or sold to someone else, Ikeas report reads. For more information, customers are directed to visit IKEA.ca/ProductRecalls or call the company at 1-800-661-9807.
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E-Commerce
The clock is ticking on tax credits for electric vehiclesand that’s pushing a lot of people who were debating whether or not to get one off of the fence. Sales are surging at dealerships for EVs, and likely will remain high for the next month and a half. That’s because on September 30, the $7,500 tax credit for new EV purchases (and $4,000 for a used one) will disappear, a move that will add challenges to an industry that already has plenty. Wait times for a new Tesla are currently hovering between four and six weeks, but over the weekend, the Tesla site was reportedly showing waits of four to six months. (It’s unclear if that was a mistake or glitch on Tesla’s part. Tesla did not reply to Fast Company‘s request for comment on the matter.) Ford and General Motors, which also make EVs, have not reported extended wait times, but customer interest is growing. Analysts say that’s to be expected, but once September comes to an end, the party may well be over for EV companies. The July 4 signing of the Trump budget bill marked the death knell for EV incentives (and also spurred a feud between the White House and Elon Musk). That puts the EV industry at something of a crossroads. Last month, consumers purchased 130,100 new EVs, the second-highest total on record, according to Cox Automotive. That was a 26.4% jump from June, and roughly 20% higher than last July. Used EV sales came in at 36,700, which was a record high. Tesla is emphasizing the expiration of the tax credits on its site to encourage potential buyers to commit to a sale. The company has also increased lease rates of the Model Y by as much as 14% and done away with a free upgrade incentive for the Models Y and 3. But the sales numbers won’t remain that high, experts say. “Volatility is anticipated, as EV share mix from July-September is expected to advance, followed by much lower take rates in the fourth quarter of 2025,” S&P wrote in a blog post. A June report from AAA showed flagging consumer interest in EVs. Only 19% of the people surveyed by the organization said they were likely or very likely to purchase one as their next car. The number who were adamantly against buying an EV was up, with 63% saying they were unlikely or very unlikely to buy an EV. Thats the highest number since 2022. Tesla, meanwhile, reported a 16% drop in vehicle sales in its second quarter earnings. (The company’s stock is down 10% year to date.) What to know if you’re thinking about buying an EV If you’re one of the people who was considering an EV purchase, experts say you should figure out which car you want soonand not hesitate on the purchase. Those who do could find themselves at the mercy of the dealers. “Electric vehicle demand and sales will absolutely spike between now and September 30,” says iSeeCars executive analyst Karl Brauer. “I expect the typical last-minute rush between September 20 and 30, and I expect those buyers will be left with the dregs of the EV market. Dealers will be happy to leverage their advantage if they still have a desirable EV on the lot on September 29 and 30.” An alternate scenario could see a stand-off between dealers and consumers in the coming weeks. Dealers, who know sales are about to plummet in October, could be willing to come down much further on pricing as September 30 approaches if they still have a surplus of inventory. (To receive the tax credit, consumers must not only purchase their vehicle before the September 30 deadline, but must also take delivery by that date.) The good news for potential buyers is that in July, at least, EV prices are still coming down. Kelley Blue Book says the average new EV cost $55,689, down by 2.2% from the June average and 4.2% lower than the year prior. Tesla saw the biggest price drops. “The urgency created by the administrations decision to sunset government-backed, IRA-era EV incentives was expected to create serious demand for EVs in the short term,” said Stephanie Valdez Streaty, senior analyst, Cox Automotive. “If last month is any measure: Mission Accomplished. . . . At this pace, Q3 will be the best ever and then some, as buyers jump in before the big incentives dry up.”
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E-Commerce
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