Automotive

Ford plans seven new EVs and massive battery plant for Europe

Ford plans seven new EVs and massive battery plant for Europe
Ford has outlined plans for seven new electric vehicle models for the European market
Ford has outlined plans for seven new electric vehicle models for the European market
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Ford has outlined plans for seven new electric vehicle models for the European market
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Ford has outlined plans for seven new electric vehicle models for the European market

Ford has announced plans to significantly ramp up its electrification efforts in Europe, outlining seven new EV models for the region and massive new investment in an assembly plant in Cologne, Germany. The new generation of electric vehicles will include passenger and commercial models, with manufacturing to be supported by what could become one of Europe's biggest battery factories.

Last year, we saw Ford begin to throw more weight behind its electric vehicle vision for Europe, announcing plans to sell exclusively 100-percent EVs on the continent by 2030. This was accompanied by a US$1-billion investment in a vehicle assembly facility in Cologne, which it is rebranding as the Ford Cologne Electrification Center, its first dedicated production plant for EVs.

The company announced on Monday that its investment in the Cologne plant will total $2 billion, as it funds the production of three new passenger vehicles and four new commercial vehicles for the European market. The first cab off the rank will be a five-seat medium-sized crossover with a claimed 500-km (310-mile) range, with the name to be revealed later this year and production to kick off in 2023. A sports crossover will join the lineup in 2024.

Four models of the Transit will begin to appear in 2023, including the one-tonne Transit Custom van and Tourneo Custom multipurpose van, along with smaller variants the year after. An all-electric version of the Ford Puma, the company's best-selling passenger vehicle in Europe last year, is also planned for 2024.

“These new Ford electric vehicles signal what is nothing less than the total transformation of our brand in Europe – a new generation of zero-emission vehicles, optimized for a connected world, offering our customers truly outstanding user experiences,” said Stuart Rowley, chair, Ford of Europe.

Set to play an important part in this strategy is a new battery manufacturing plant planned for Turkey that is set to become one of Europe's largest. Details are yet to be finalized, but the plant would manufacture nickel NMC cells for use in battery modules, with an expected annual capacity of between 30 and 45 GWh. Production of the cells is slated to kick off around 2025.

More detail is available on the new electric cars and vans in the video below.

Ford Takes Bold Steps Toward An All-Electric Future In Europe

Source: Ford

7 comments
7 comments
Mayhem
Dear Ford, please send an electric pickup to Norway.
Catweazle
Perhaps it might be a good idea to have the charging infrastructure, from generating capacity through to charging points that can cope with the large number of potential users who don't have off-street parking - such as those who live in high-rise flats - before getting too carried away producing huge numbers of EVs...just a thought!
Bob Flint
They all look like Monkeys in the dark with those big side mirrors...
Thornapple
Late to the game and, as usual with these sorts of announcements, the dates are very optimistic. Nonetheless I wish them luck because the good fortune of finding oil in the ground continues to finance a lot of the wrong people.
ljaques
"Not just embracing change, but accelerating it." They said, after dragging their heels for nearly 30 years. So, Ford, what are you doing in the US now?
TomLeeM
I think it makes sense for Europe since there are countries banning the sales of gas powered vehicles after a certain date. Putting a battery factory there also makes sense.

I read an article (or more) on how 69 percent of Americans don't want an electric vehicle. I hope the USA doesn't plan on banning gas vehicles in the future. Emissions have greatly diminished in the USA plus it is a big country. I think an electric vehicle makes sense in some ways but not others (just my opinion).
Daishi
It's late but not too late. There is a lot of room for improvement in execution and if they can succeed their EV plans will probably succeed. With Tesla pivoting from introducing new models to building a humanoid robot I wouldn't count out EV competition from other companies just yet.