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Ford to unveil new budget truck, Maverick, next week

Published

5 years ago

June 4, 2021

Ford Motor Company says it will introduce a compact pickup truck, a low-cost vehicle called Maverick, next week, augmenting its entry-level vehicle offerings more than three years after it said it would largely abandon the US sedan market.

While Ford said it would provide more details about the truck on June 8, executives have talked about the “white-space” vehicle expected to move the US automaker into a new segment, and people familiar with the plans said the Maverick’s starting price could be below $20,000.

Ford Maverick, the upcoming light pickup will be the smallest in the range – yes, even smaller than the Ranger – and could share its underpinnings with one of Ford’s unibody crossovers, says motor1.com.

The four-door small pickup will be built, starting in July, at the company’s Hermosillo, Mexico, plant with plans to eventually build more than 120,000 annually, according to AutoForecast Solutions.

Ford declined to comment on pricing or other details about the vehicle ahead of next week’s reveal.

In an industry where the average new vehicle now sells for almost $41,000, according to Kelley Blue Book, and the number of vehicles sold for less than $20,000 is rapidly shrinking, Ford hopes Maverick helps attract buyers turned off by its April 2018 announcement that it would stop selling the Fiesta, Focus, Taurus and Fusion sedans, the last of which was discontinued last year.

Ford’s current entry-level vehicle is the EcoSport SUV, which starts at just under $20,000.

Dealers say they are excited they will have a low-cost vehicle to draw buyers into the Ford brand.

“When they decided to get rid of the sedans, they made it very, very difficult for us to compete in that entry-level market,” said Rhett Ricart, owner of Ricart Ford in Columbus, Ohio. “Ford’s timing on this thing’s perfect. It’s going to put us back in the game.”

In 2012, 54 per cent of all US new vehicles sold for less than $30,000, but that share slid to 20 per cent last year as consumers shifted to more expensive trucks and SUVs, according to Cox Automotive.

As of April, only six car models sold for less than $20,000.

Today’s low-cost buyers focus instead on saving money, analysts said.

“Cars have become so reliable, entry-level sales have moved to off-lease and used cars,” said Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions.

He added, “When you have the average transaction price of $40,000, under $30,000 is quote unquote affordable.”

Ford is not alone in eyeing this end of the truck market either, as Hyundai Motor Company will this summer introduce the Santa Cruz compact pickup, which it has dubbed a “sport adventure vehicle.”

“It’s going to take us into an entirely new territory for the Hyundai brand and it’s going to attract a new buyer that probably wouldn’t have considered purchasing a Hyundai in the first place,” Hyundai North American sales chief Randy Parker said in an interview.

The Santa Cruz price tag will start around $25,000, he said. AutoForecast Solutions expects Hyundai to build fewer than 35,000 a year at its Alabama plant.

The Maverick also is an example of leveraging existing platforms to save money and speed vehicles to market.

It will be built on the same vehicle architecture used for the Bronco Sport, Lincoln Corsair and Ford Escape SUVs, saving the company 68 per cent off the original investment made for the Focus, Ford disclosed last December.

Related Topics:Featured Ford Maverick 2022

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NADDC Pushes Affordable Auto Loans to Boost Vehicle Ownership, More Jobs

Published

4 days ago

September 21, 2026

Trends Admin

NADDC Pushes Affordable Auto Loans to Boost Vehicle Ownership, More Job

The National Automotive Design and Development Council has called for far-reaching reforms in vehicle financing to make car ownership more affordable while boosting local vehicle assembly, job creation and industrial development.

The Council said a properly structured financing system could turn vehicle credit from a mere consumer lending product into a major economic tool for expanding productive mobility and strengthening Nigeria’s automotive value chain.

Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Joseph Oluwemimo Osanipin, stated this in an address delivered on his behalf by the Council’s Principal Information Officer, Tanko Kyumnom, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Auto Sectoral Group Symposium in Lagos.

The symposium, held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the Henry Fajemirokun Hall of LCCI, was themed: “From Subsidy to Credit: Can Vehicle Financing Replace Fuel Subsidy as Nigeria’s Mobility Equaliser?”
Osanipin said the growing cost of mobility had made it necessary to explore financing models that would enable individuals, businesses and transport operators to acquire vehicles without bearing the full cost of ownership upfront.

According to him, spreading vehicle payments over an agreed period could provide a more sustainable pathway to vehicle acquisition, provided that the financing products are affordable, accessible and structured around the economic realities of Nigerian consumers.

He, however, cautioned that simply making credit available would not be enough.
“Vehicle financing offers a more sustainable approach by enabling individuals, businesses and transport operators to acquire vehicles and pay for them over time,” Osanipin stated.
The NADDC DG said the bigger opportunity lies in linking vehicle financing with the growth of locally assembled and Nigerian-made vehicles.

He explained that increased access to credit for locally produced vehicles could generate wider economic benefits by stimulating demand for domestic assembly, supporting component manufacturers, creating jobs and strengthening local supply chains.

Osanipin therefore urged stronger collaboration among government institutions, financial institutions, vehicle manufacturers and other stakeholders in designing financing schemes capable of supporting both mobility access and automotive industrialisation.

The NADDC boss identified affordable vehicle loans, leasing arrangements, fleet financing, credit guarantees and appropriate interest-rate support as mechanisms that could broaden access to vehicle ownership and productive mobility.

lt also stressed the need for repayment structures that take into account the earning patterns and business realities of Nigerians, particularly transport operators and small businesses whose vehicles are directly linked to their income-generating activities.

Osanipin maintained that the objective should extend beyond increasing the number of vehicles on Nigerian roads.
“The goal is not simply to put more vehicles on Nigerian roads. It is to ensure that Nigerians can access productive mobility without placing an unsustainable burden on government finances or household incomes,” he said.

According to him, a properly structured automotive financing system could create a stronger connection between mobility, economic inclusion and domestic vehicle production.

“With the right policies and partnerships, vehicle financing can become a powerful instrument for mobility, economic inclusion and automotive industrial development,” Osanipin added.

The NADDC’s position places vehicle financing within the broader effort to build a sustainable automotive ecosystem in Nigeria—one in which access to credit supports vehicle users while also creating stronger demand for local assembly, components and associated automotive services.

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Jetour T1 Storms Abuja as Automaker Accelerates Nigeria Expansion

Published

4 days ago

September 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Jetour T1 Set to debut in Abuja as Expansion Gains Momentum

Following a successful debut in Lagos, Jetour Nigeria will host the Jetour Experience Abuja from September 22 to 24, 2026, positioning its all-new T1 model as a major competitor in the country’s growing adventure SUV market.

The three-day event in the Federal Capital Territory will give prospective buyers and motoring enthusiasts direct access to product demonstrations, expert-led technical sessions, and hands-on test drives.

“Strong participation, extensive test drives, and significant sales enquiries at the Lagos edition, coupled with growing demand from Abuja residents, influenced the decision to bring the experience to the nation’s capital,” the company said in a statement. The show holds at Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki.

To support its growing national footprint, Jetour Nigeria has established a network of seven accredited dealers: Elizade Nigeria Limited, New Era AutoVehicle Services Limited, Kojo Motors, Germaine Auto Centre, Tab Autos Limited, R.T. Briscoe Motors, and Mandilas Autos. The partnerships cover retail sales, genuine spare parts supply, and comprehensive after-sales maintenance.

Jetour T1 Set to debut in Abuja as Expansion Gains Momentum

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Abuja Demand Rises as Jetour Brings X70 Plus Experience to FCT

Published

6 days ago

September 20, 2026

Trends Admin

Abuja Demand Rises as Jetour Brings X70 Plus Experience to FCT

Jetour Nigeria is taking its seven-seater X70 Plus SUV to Abuja as rising interest from motorists in the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states fuels the brand’s latest push to deepen its presence across Nigeria.

The X70 Plus will headline the Jetour Experience Abuja, holding from September 22 to 24 at Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki, following the strong response recorded during the Lagos edition, where motorists turned out for test drives and made enquiries about Jetour models.

The Abuja activation is designed to give prospective buyers direct access to the X70 Plus and other models, with opportunities to test-drive the vehicles, engage product specialists and experience their technology, safety and comfort features.

The X70 Plus is positioned as a family-oriented SUV, offering seven-seat capacity and a range of features targeted at customers seeking comfort, technology and practicality.

The SUV is available with 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre turbocharged engine options, with outputs of up to 145kW and 290Nm of torque, paired with a dual-clutch automatic transmission.