From what i understand, it is the paint shop at Flat Rock that is the issue. I would guess any JV with Chinese car manufacturers would be for sedan production at Flat Rock - their most under utilized plant in the USA - Next most under utilized would then be Cuautitlan.....if they add a JV there, it would likely be for production in Latin and South America.... 

Of all the ideas we put forward, how would adding a highly related (parts sharing) product on an existing platform (S650) at an existing plant (Flat Rock) without having to rip up the entire plant, not be the cheapest way to go about adding a Mustang 4 door?

I think Ford looked at the Wrangler redesign timeline (longer product cycles) and said, yeah, let's do that.  Meanwhile they'll pull out content and charge more so they make more lol.

We're in MD and the Tesla superchargers haven't been a problem at all with our new Model Y. Haven't gone farther than southern VA in it yet, but based on all the videos of cross country drives with zero intervention FSD use.. I don't think it's as big an issue as it's made out to be unless you live in the middle of nowhere. Plugging it in at home and having a full 'tank' in the morning is as simple as it gets too, it even tells you on your phone if you forget to plug it in. People that say it won't work for them because of whatever reason just haven't tried it, imo. I know some people live in dead zones still, but not many. 

Now that Ford is easing back in its EV missteps, I guess it’s time for a four door Mustang,,,,,

It makes sense to me to update cd6 with new architecture and lower cost for Explorer, Aviator and Mustang sub brand vehicles.

I think a big reason for that is the small profit margins making a big refresh or redesign ROI negative.  That doesn't explain Explorer or Bronco though.  I think they were casualties of the EV debacle.   Hopefully the new products and platforms will help with that problem going forward.

I agree totally regarding the need for a new Explorer, but the lack of a new generation is very likely due to the huge EV losses which have slowed Ford’s new product development by years. 

Well you can thank the money thrown away on the three row EV for causing that. Hopefully Ford has decided to fix that. 

It's not the cheapest thing to do. I bet it is actually very expensive to keep producing ICE at Flat Rock. Which is why it needs more products to reduce unit costs.   Remember the objective here: Keep the 2 door Mustang alive at Flat Rock. It has no where to go and Ford is not going to invest in a new RWD ICE platform just for Mustang and build it elsewhere.    UEV requires mega casting and completely different assembly method. Cannot be introduced to Flat Rock while S650 is still using old school methods. This is why Louisville is shut down to retool for 18 months.    UEV Mustang doesn't accomplish what Farley wants for Mustang and Flat Rock. UEV sedan probably has a solid business case but I doubt it will be called Mustang... there is no business case for two Mustang sedans.    Also, I have no idea what Ford will do to replace Mach E... seems like it will be really dumb to throw away the goodwill the nameplate has generated with its owners. If I'm in charge of product planning at Ford, one the UEV CUV will absolutely be called Mach E, just like I would reuse the Escape and Maverick name... 100% no brainer decision.   This is basically what I would do for product planning in North America:   C2.2 or C3 (hybrids or PHEV) Bronco Sport  Maverick  Explorer Sport  (next gen Territory) Transit Connect  Corsair Nautilus   CD6.2 (hybrids or PHEV) Explorer Aviator   UEV (EV) Escape EV (compact CUV EV) Maverick EV Mach E (midsize CUV EV) Explorer EV (large CUV EV) Fusion (sedan EV) Corsair EV (compact CUV EV) Nautilus EV (midsize CUV EV) Aviator EV (large CUV EV)   S650.2 (hybrid) Mustang coupe Mustang convertible Mustang 4 door   T6.3 (hybrids or EV) Bronco 2 door Bronco 4 door Bronco EV Ranger Everest Continental (that's the name I would use for Lincoln T6)   T3 (ICE, hybrids, and PHEV) F-Series Expedition Navigator   Transit (ICE and EV)   E-Series and stripped chassis (dinosaur tears)