Ford Unveils the Mach-E Extended Range RWD SE Model for the China Market, its Second Subsidized EV

author: Manish Kharinta   

Ford announces the new lower priced RWD SE Mach-E at a media event in Shanghai. (Photo: Ford Motor Co.)

Ford Motor Co has announced that it will add a new Mustang Mach-E model to its EV line-up in China, which is the world's biggest auto market.

The newly unveiled offering is Ford's fifth Mach-E variant on the market in China. It's lower price tag means it qualifies for state-led subsidies in the country for the purchase of an electric vehicle. 

The long-range RWD SE version of the Mach-E is priced at $43,450 (282,000 yuan). At this price point, the new SE model is Ford Mustang Mach-E's second variant to qualify for the subsidies, as it falls under the 300,000 yuan ($46,340) cap.

In April, Ford began taking pre-orders in China for the Standard Range RWD, Extended Range RWD, Extended Range AWD, and GT First Edition of the Mach-E. 

Up until now, only the Mustang Mach-E Standard Range RWD version qualified for the subsidies in China, as the rest of the lineup was priced well over the 300,000 yuan cap.

The SE variant will offer an additional 23kW over the total power output of Mach-E's Standard Range RWD variant. The new model will also offer slightly more range than the Standard Range Mach-E, which is rated at 619 km (384 miles), based on China's new CLTC test cycle.

According to Ford, Mach-E's newest Chinese variant will take less than 7 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph. 

Even though it costs around $4,300 less than the Mach-E Extended Range RWD, the SE version comes equipped with the same battery and powertrain as its more premium sibling. However, Ford will not offer features like double-pane quiet glass in its more competitively priced long-range RWD SE.

Ford will start taking pre-orders for the Extended Range RWD SE Mach-E this fall in China. Deliveries are expected to begin towards the end of the year.

Interestingly, the unveiling of Ford's new Mach-E variant follows Tesla's announcement of a more affordable version of Model Y for the China market, which will also qualify for the same state subsidies. 

Whether or not Ford introduced the SE version of the Mach-E to counter Tesla's more affordable Model Y remains uncertain. What is clear however, is that Chinese consumers now have another Mach-E model on the market that qualifies for China's generous EV subsidies.

Manish Kharinta

Manish Kharinta is a automotive writer based in the Los Angeles area. He has worked for automotive industry websites TheSmokingClutch.com, CarDekho.com and CarBikeindia.com. His experience ranges from covering auto shows, to car reviews and breaking automotive news. Manish aims to bring forth his unique perspective on automotive design and technological innovations in the automotive industry.