Ford has promised that every model in its European line-up will be available as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or electric vehicle (EV) by the middle of 2026, ahead of the passenger line-up becoming fully electric by 2030.
The company said that it is going “all in on its electric passenger vehicles,” while its commercial vehicle line-up, which it says is key to ensuring growth and profitability, will be entirely zero-emissions-capable by 2024.
Ford expects two-thirds of its commercial vehicle sales in Europe to be accounted for by PHEV and EV variants by 2030.
The UK government has pledged to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, although some hybrids will be allowed until 2035.
With that deadline on the horizon, Ford has committed $1 billion (£719.4 million) to the renovation of its European headquarters in Cologne, Germany. This investment will result in the existing assembly plant - which currently makes the Fiesta - transformed into the Ford Cologne Electrification Centre, which will produce the company’s “first European-built, volume, all-electric passenger vehicle for European customers” in 2023.
That all-new EV will sit atop the Volkswagen Group's MEB electric architecture - as used by the new ID 3 and ID 4 - as part of a strategic platform-sharing agreement between the two firms. Ford has the option of producing a second EV at Cologne using the MEB, and has promised further details within the next few months.
“Our announcement today to transform our Cologne facility, the home of our operations in Germany for 90 years, is one of the most significant Ford has made in over a generation,” said Ford of Europe president Stuart Rowley. “It underlines our commitment to Europe and a modern future with electric vehicles at the heart of our strategy for growth.
“We will offer an exceptional range of electrified vehicles, supported by customer-centric digital services and experiences, allowing our customers to come with us on the journey to a fully electric future, starting right now with the launch of the all-electric Mustang Mach-E. In combination with our leading commercial vehicle business, this will form the basis of a sustainably profitable Ford business in Europe.”
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Ford of Europe uses it's "golden egg" British Transit as the basis of their deal to build future VW commercials - and in return opts out of investing in new EV platforms by "hatting" VWs MEB. Ford of Britain rewarded by the total closure of it's UK operations.
Sod 'em
Read between the lines. The last time an American company started collaberating with a European firm it resulted in General Motors leaving the European Union and selling Opel and Vauxhall to Peugeot. Ford will eventually do the same in Europe and sell up their European business to Volkswagen. Resulting in plant closures at Dagenham (no more diesels) and design and development closing in Essex too.
Yep - after Bridgend, Dagenham is "dead man walking", design and development has already left Essex, the former Engineering Development Centre now called a "campus" (God 'elp us) now used to accomodate admin clerical staff moved out of the former head office in Warley (sold for conversaion to flats).