Ford speeds changeover to electromobility in Europe
Within the next two years, Ford plans to launch three new BEV passenger cars and four new BEV commercial vehicles in Europe; the company is already targeting sales of more than 600,000 such vehicles annually by 2026. The announcement is part of the group’s far-reaching transformation towards electric mobility.
Recently, Ford had incorporated the development and production of electric vehicles into a specially created new business unit called Ford Model e. Together with Ford Pro, Ford’s commercial vehicle business unit, both business units are to determine Ford’s future in Europe.In 2023, Ford plans to start production of an all-new fully electric passenger car at its plant in Cologne. From 2024, a second new all-electric model will be added to this production facility. In addition, Ford’s best-selling passenger car model in Europe, the Ford Puma, will be available as an all-electric vehicle from 2024. This model is to be produced in Craiova, Romania.
Four new electric models of the successful Transit series will complement Ford’s product family in the one-tonne van segment. This will be followed in 2024 by the next generation of the the all-electric Transit Courier and Tourneo Courier.
- Ford invests $1 billion in Cologne electrification center
- Study: Traditional carmakers drive electromobility transformation
The company also confirmed reports that the first all-electric vehicle to be produced at Ford’s Electrification Center in Cologne, Germany, will be a midsize, five-seat sport crossover. Last 2020, SUVs and crossovers accounted for 58 per cent of all Ford car sales in Europe. With its range of 500 km on one battery charge, this all-electric crossover model is expected to open up new markets for Ford. The name and vehicle will be unveiled later in 2022, with production at the Cologne plant starting in 2023.
Ford also announced plans to produce a second all-electric model at the Cologne site. This is expected to bring the number of electric vehicles produced at the Ford Cologne Electrification Center Cologne plant to 1.2 million vehicles within six years. The investment in the new electric passenger cars produced at the Cologne plant is thus expected to amount to $2 billion.
The investment in the Cologne Electrification Center additionally includes the construction of a new vehicle battery assembly plant, which will start production in 2024.
In support of Ford’s ambitious plans to electrify its vehicle fleet, Ford also plans to partner with Turkey’s Koç Holding to build a large battery manufacturing facility. A memorandum of understanding to this effect was also signed today by Ford, SK On Co. Ltd. and Koç. Subject to the signing of a final agreement, the three partners plan to establish one of the largest commercial vehicle battery production facilities in Europe. The joint venture would be based near Ankara and produce nickel-rich NMC (nickel manganese cobalt) cells for installation in battery modules. Production is expected to start as early as the middle of the decade. The planned annual capacity will be 30 to 45 gigawatt hours.
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