F
New truck, same old headaches
Ford’s getting a little future-facing flex here: a camouflaged $30,000 EV pickup was spotted testing in Phoenix, suggesting the automaker is still pushing ahead with its affordable EV plan for next year. Think of it as Ford trying to show up to the EV party in a cheaper, more practical outfit.
But the recall cloud is stealing the spotlight
The catch? Ford also filed two fresh recalls on Monday with NHTSA, and they’re not tiny. The company says:
- About 36,046 Bronco SUVs may have unsecured fender flares that could detach
- Roughly 741,195 vehicles, including Expedition, Navigator, F-150, Explorer, and Aviator models, may have a transmission issue that raises rollaway/crash risk
That adds up to 777,241 vehicles getting dragged back into the shop. Not exactly the kind of product momentum investors love to see when the company is trying to prove it can build the next wave of EVs without tripping over the last one.
Why investors should care
Yes, the prototype sighting is a nice “look, we’re still cooking” moment for Ford’s EV ambitions. But recalls are the less glamorous part of the business that can dent margins, soak up cash, and keep the brand in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Big picture: Ford is trying to sell you the future while still cleaning up the present. And in the auto business, that’s a very expensive juggling act.