Apple Maps to Power Navigation on Ford's $30,000 Universal Electric Vehicle Platform

Apple and Ford announced a partnership that will embed Apple Maps directly into Ford’s upcoming Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform, starting in 2027. The integration will use Apple’s MapKit for Automotive and provide turn‑by‑turn navigation, live traffic, natural‑language search, and EV‑specific routing that preconditions the battery before charging stops.

The UEV platform is a flexible architecture aimed at midsize electric vehicles priced around $30,000. Ford plans to incorporate the mapping data into its advanced driver‑assistance system, BlueCruise, enabling hands‑free driving on highways. The first model to receive the technology is a new electric pickup slated for release next year. Ford CEO Jim Farley called the announcement “one of the most important” for the company, while Apple senior vice‑president Eddy Cue highlighted that Apple Maps will become a core component of the vehicle’s navigation stack.