Ford’s long-awaited headline-grabbing Mustang Mach-E electric SUV could finally be getting an on-sale date in Australia, as global production increases (with a bonus of slashed prices across the board) potentially frees up slots for our humble market.
The Mach-E has thus far been ruled out for an Australian launch thanks to overwhelming demand, and limited production slots available, with Ford only able to build 78,000 units globally over the course of 2022.
However, the brand always had plans to nearly double this number over the course of 2023, estimating that it will be able to build 130,000 Mach-Es by the end of the year from the two plants which are equipped to build it – one in Mexico and one in China.
Ford CEO, Jim Farley, tweeted “we want to make EVs more accessible, so we’re increasing Mustang Mach-E production & reducing prices across the Mach-E line-up. Scaling will shorten customer wait times. And with higher production, we’re reducing costs, which allows us share these savings with customers.”
Production for the Mach-E is expected to reach 270,000 units by 2026, with production of the Transit EV and F-150 Lightning said to hit 150,000 annual units by the same date.
Prices for the Mach-E in North America are down between USD$600 for the base all-wheel drive Standard Range, to a whopping $5900 for the top-spec GT Extended Range, with the largest decreases concentrated on the Extended Range versions. The larger battery pack grants a driving range of 470km on the WLTP standard.
According to the brand’s online configurator, however, wait times still extend to nearly six months. Currently the right-hand drive Mach-E for the UK market is built at the brand’s Mexico factory, with NMC batteries from Korean manufacturer, LG Chem at a Polish facility.
Ford has announced it will lean on more affordable LFP battery chemistry in the future to fulfil its goal to deliver two million new electric vehicles in 2026, and has struck a deal with China’s CATL to produce them. Base versions of the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y currently use LFP batteries.
Mr Farley also said in a reply to the tweet that the brand had plans to expand its EV pick-up truck line-up beyond the popular F-150 Lighting.
The Mach-E prices are down likely as a response to similar recent price-cuts across Tesla’s range, which in Australia have manifested in the form of a $1600 discount for the most popular base Model 3 RWD, or a $3500 discount for the entry-level Model Y.
Elsewhere in the Ford line-up, an electric version of the Transit van and smaller Transit Custom will launch in Australia, as well as the combustion version of the F-150.
Ford is also expected to leverage its partnership with Volkswagen in Europe to produce a new fully electric mid-size SUV in the coming years.
Keyword: 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E to get an early-mark in Australia?