Ford just announced something Bronco fans have been waiting for, but there’s bad news too. The company revealed the Bronco New Energy last week. It’s the first electric Bronco ever made. The problem? You can only buy it in China.

• Two power options: Electric version gets 404 miles per charge, gas-electric combo gets 800 miles total.
• Much bigger size: Longer than current Broncos and as big as large family SUVs.
• China only: Goes on sale late 2025 for about $42,000-$56,000, not coming to America yet.

Two Ways to Go Electric

Ford didn’t just stick a battery in the regular Bronco and call it a day. They built this one from scratch with two different setups.

The first option runs on electricity only. It has a huge 105.4 kWh battery that gives you 404 miles before you need to charge. The battery comes from BYD, the same company that makes batteries for Tesla’s factory in China. Two electric motors power all four wheels and make 271 horsepower total. The front motor makes 175 hp and the rear makes 270 hp.

The second option is for people who worry about running out of battery power. It combines a smaller 43.7 kWh battery with a 1.5-liter gas engine. But here’s the interesting part: the gas engine doesn’t actually move the car. It just makes electricity to charge the battery while you drive. You can go over 130 miles on battery power alone, and the gas engine helps you reach almost 800 miles total.

This Bronco is Huge

The New Energy is way bigger than other Broncos. It’s 197.8 inches long, which makes it longer than the regular Bronco (189.4 inches) and much longer than the smaller Bronco Sport (173.4 inches). To put that in perspective, it’s about the same size as a three-row Kia EV9.

All that extra size and the heavy batteries make it really heavy too. The electric-only version weighs 5,800 pounds. The gas-electric version weighs 5,535 pounds. Compare that to the current Bronco Raptor, which weighs 4,945 pounds, and you can see why Ford had to make the suspension stronger.

Looks Familiar But Different

Ford kept the classic Bronco look while adding some new touches. You still get the boxy shape, big front grille, and spare tire on the back that everyone recognizes. But they added smoother door handles to help with wind resistance and a roof design that looks more up-to-date.

The tech stuff is where things get really interesting. There’s a special sensor on the roof that uses laser technology, plus more than 30 cameras and sensors all around the car. Ford says this will help with safety features and even let the car drive itself in some situations. Inside, they’re promising a “smart” dashboard with special settings for camping, taking naps, and keeping pets comfortable.

Why China Gets It First

Ford will build the New Energy through JMC, which is their partnership with a Chinese company called Jiangling Motors. The price will be between 300,000 and 400,000 yuan, which equals about $42,000 to $56,000 in American money.

So why is China getting this first? China buys more electric cars than any other country, and their government really supports electric vehicles. Ford hasn’t said anything about bringing it to America, even though they’ve talked about making hybrid Broncos for U.S. buyers before.

This looks like Ford testing the waters. Other companies like Rivian and Jeep are already selling electric SUVs in America. Jeep’s plug-in hybrid Wrangler has been really popular. An electric Bronco for America probably will happen eventually. Ford is using the China launch to see how well it works and what people think before deciding about other countries.

Ford has promised to make extended-range electric vehicles for different models, but those won’t show up for at least two years. For now, American Bronco fans will have to keep waiting.