Mustang Mach E and the 495 dollar frunk
Ford found a new way to lighten a customer’s wallet, this time by charging for empty space. The company confirmed that buyers of the 2026 model year Mustang Mach E in the United States must pay $495, about €455, to have the front boot installed. What used to be standard equipment and one of the electric SUV’s selling points now sits on the options list alongside mud flaps and wheel locks.
Unlike BMW’s much criticised heated seat subscriptions, where the hardware is already fitted but locked behind software, Ford took a more mechanical approach. If a customer skips the 495 dollar box on the order sheet, the factory simply leaves out the moulded plastic tub under the bonnet. Instead of a neat storage compartment, you get exposed electronics and cabling.
The Mustang Mach E’s front boot holds roughly 135 litres, enough for charging cables or soggy sports gear you would rather not throw into the cabin. It was one of the neat packaging tricks that made EV ownership feel clever.
Ford argues that most owners rarely use the front compartment, so removing it from the base specification helps keep the entry price competitive. Every gram counts, of course, but it is hard to believe that one plastic container and a few brackets meaningfully alter range or handling.
Under CEO Jim Farley, Ford is trying to steer its electric division towards profitability. The 2026 Mustang Mach E carries a lower starting price on paper. Add back the items that were once included, such as the frunk or the Rally model’s rear spoiler, and the arithmetic becomes less flattering.
This is the classic unbundling strategy perfected in Europe by the Volkswagen Group. Remove components from the standard specification, then sell them back individually. The irony writes itself. One of the key advantages of an electric car over an internal combustion rival, the freed up space at the front, has become a billable privilege. It is akin to a smartphone maker charging extra for the slot that holds the SIM card.
Without the frunk, owners must find a new home for the Type 2 charging cable. When it is wet and covered in road grime, that means sand and moisture end up in the boot or on the back seat. Paying roughly €455 for a plastic tub feels pointed, especially when the car itself costs well over €40,000.
The reality is that Ford is testing the limits of consumer tolerance. If buyers accept this with a shrug, it will not take long before other manufacturers start itemising the glovebox or sun visors. In the age of the electric car, even empty space comes with a price tag.
