A battery-powered Lincoln SUV, due in mid-2022, will be the first Ford Motor Co. vehicle built on a custom electrified chassis that resembles a skateboard, which was developed by Ford-backed startup Rivian, according to several people familiar with the program.

The all-wheel-drive Lincoln SUV could compete against Rivian's R1S, an electric sport utility vehicle slated to go into production in early 2021 that will be priced from $72,500. Both models will use Rivian's so-called skateboard, a flexible platform that combines electric motors, batteries, controls and suspension.


On Tuesday, Ford declined to comment. Rivian did not respond to a request for comment.

The new Lincoln, which carries the internal program code U787, also could compete with premium offerings from others, including General Motors Co <GM.N>, which plans to introduce at least two new electric SUVs by 2023, one for Cadillacand one that could revive the Hummer name, sources have said.

Ford invested $500 million in Rivian this year and plans to help it begin production next year at a former Mitsubishi plant in Normal, Illinois.

When Ford made the investment, it said it would use Rivian's skateboard to develop its own electric vehicle, but did not disclose details.

It is not clear where Ford intends to build the Lincoln SUV, which will be among the first of several battery-powered utility vehicles planned for Ford's premium brand in North America and China, according to supplier sources familiar with those programs who asked not to be identified.

Ford expects to introduce a compact Lincoln electric crossover in late 2021 or early 2022 and a mid-size companion in 2023, the sources said.

The U.S. auto industry plans to invest billions of dollars over the next few years to build all-electric pickups and SUVs, sectors of the market that have been among the most profitable, especially for Detroit-based automakers.

But analysts have questioned whether demand from consumers and commercial customers will come close to matching production.

Founded in 2009, Rivian has raised $1.9 billion from investors, including e-commerce giant Amazon, which has ordered 100,000 electric delivery vehicles from Rivian. The first Amazon vans will be built in Normal and are to be delivered in 2021.

Ford aims to sell an electric F-series pickup in late 2021, sources have said. It also will offer the electric Mustang Mach E SUV next year as part of plans to invest $11.5 billion by 2022 electrifying its vehicles.

Few auto companies that have yet to launch production of any vehicles have attracted as much interest and anticipation as Rivian, the decade-old electric vehicle wunderkind that has amassed a multibillion-dollar war chest from investors including Ford and Amazon. Now, new details have surfaced about its plans to finally kickstart manufacturing later this year at a former Mitsubishi plant in rural Illinois.

MotorTrend spoke with Rivian CEO and founder R.J. Scaringe, who said the company is on track to launch pilot-build vehicles in the third quarter, followed by full production of the R1T pickup starting in December and the R1S three-row SUVabout three months later. But the big news is that Rivian will handle production of a Ford or Lincoln electric SUV in its own plant.

Scaringe told the publication that Ford is designing its own “top hat” — essentially, the body — for a high-end luxury SUV to ride atop Rivian’s skateboard so that the blue oval’s electronics can be integrated with Rivian’s system. We’ve asked Ford for confirmation, but CEO Jim Hackett has previously hinted that Rivian would handle assembly of its future joint EV at the former Mitsubishi plant it purchased in Normal, Illinois.

Rivian’s flexible skateboard platform combines the electric motors, battery pack, controls and traditional suspention systems. Scaringe said design and engineering of the Ford/Lincoln product are ready to go, but he wouldn’t confirm a timeline or which brand it would come from, saying only that it’s “an impressive product, to say the least.” Reuterspreviously reported, citing anonymous sources, that Lincoln will use the Rivian skateboard for an all-wheel-drive luxury SUV due in mid-2022.

MT also reports that Rivian will have a separate production line focused on building its skateboard chassis shared with Ford and Amazon, which has ordered 100,000 Prime commercial delivery vans from the company by 2024 on top of of its $700 million investment, announced last February. Another line will be used to assemble the three different battery packs Rivian will offer — including to Amazon for its Prime delivery vans — and route the finished packs directly to the skateboard line. Then there will be two final-assembly lines — one for the high-content Rivian and Ford products, and another for the low-content Prime vans. There are lots of other interesting details about the work Rivian has done to get the plant ready that are worth reading.

Rivian has publicly announced four investment rounds, all in 2019, including $700 million from Amazon and $500 million from Ford. Both companies also took part in a $1.3 billion round of investment, announced last month and led by T. Rowe Price.

Just three months ago, Lincoln announced a project to build a vehicle atop Rivian’s skateboard platform. Today, it’s canceling those plans. Automotive News originally reported the news, and a Lincoln spokesperson confirmed it to us. Lincoln reportedly informed dealers of its decision to cancel the electric project earlier today, citing the “current environment.”

Language like that these days in the automotive industry refers to the coronavirus pandemic and flailing vehicle sales. Originally, Lincoln announced that this model would launch in 2022. It was to be built using the same platform underpinning the Rivian R1S and R1T. The partnership with Rivian was so close that this Lincoln was going to be built at Rivian’s Normal, IL assembly plant. Production of the plant itself was halted recently in the face of the coronavirus, which is bad news for any products meant to be built there in the near future.

Lincoln never announced that this vehicle was going to be an SUV, but that was the likely result of it using Rivian’s platform designed for rugged and large utility vehicles. However, Lincoln says it still has plans to build an electric vehicle. The company’s statement follows:

“Given the current environment, Lincoln and Rivian have decided not to pursue the development of a fully electric vehicle based on Rivian’s skateboard platform. Our strategic commitment to Lincoln, Rivian and electrification remains unchanged and Lincoln’s future plans will include an all-electric vehicle consistent with its Quiet Flight DNA.”

Lincoln hasn’t specified any product details or timing for when this mystery electric vehicle will launch. It could be based off the Mustang Mach-E platform, or it could be a larger vehicle based off the future electric F-150 platform. The former could launch sooner, while the latter is likely a little ways out still. Lincoln doesn’t want this news to be read as a loosening of ties between itself and Rivian either.

“Our partnership with Rivian is strong,” Lincoln’s statement reads. “While the Lincoln electric vehicle did not turn out to be the right opportunity, we continue to work closely together with Rivian. Our strategic commitment remains unchanged and we will continue to work with Rivian on an alternative vehicle based on Rivian’s skateboard platform.”

As of now, Lincoln hasn’t revealed exactly what didn’t line up to make the planned collaboration work. But, it sounds like we should be expecting a future project based on the skateboard after all. There’s just no telling when that vehicle will arrive.