The past few weeks have seen a number of key automakers cement or increase their pledges towards carbon-neutrality and Ford has thrown its hat in the ring by unveiling its plans to launch 7 new EVs in Europe by 2026.
Ford Puma. Credit: Gabriel Nica / Shutterstock
The main event of Ford's new electrification scheme is an electric version of its best-selling Puma brand, set for rollout in 2024. Credit: Gabriel Nica / Shutterstock
Three of the new models are set for commercial launch by 2024 at the latest, with the firm hoping to shift at least 600,000 new EV models annually on the continent by the mid-decade, it revealed on March 14.
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This news follows the announcement of the Ford Model e, billed as a new "global business unit" that will help design and push new electric and "connected" vehicles that will define the automaker's future plans in Europe. The new electrification push is set to be based out of its manufacturing plant in Cologne, Germany.
“I am delighted to see the pace of change in Europe – challenging our entire industry to build better, cleaner and more digital vehicles. Ford is all-in and moving fast to meet the demand in Europe and around the globe,” said Jim Farley, Ford's president and CEO.
“This is why we have created Ford Model e – allowing us to move at the speed of a start-up to build electric vehicles that delight and offer connected services unique to Ford and that are built with Ford-grade engineering and safety".
Alongside the announcement, Ford also revealed it will be targeting net-zero emissions across its European operations by 2035. Although, there is no news on how it will attempt to decarbonise itself in its native US, which has generally seen slower adoption of green technologies.
“Our march toward an all-electric future is an absolute necessity for Ford to meet the mobility needs of customers across a transforming Europe,” said Stuart Rowley Ford Europe's Chairman.
“It’s also about the pressing need for greater care of our planet, making a positive contribution to society and reducing emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement".
Aside from the release of the Mache-E in 2021, the E-Transit in the next quarter and the Mach-E GT later this year, the automaker has revealed the seven new models will consist of three new passenger vehicles and four new commercial vehicles.
Starting in 2023, a medium-sized passenger vehicle will commence production in Cologne, with a second expected for line-ups in 2024.
In addition, an EV version of the Ford Puma - currently the brand's best-selling car in the region - is set for launch from its production line in Romania within the same timeframe.
The Ford Transit range will see four new additions, with a one-tonne van and Tourneo Custom multi-purpose vehicle planned for 2023 and a smaller Transit Courier van and Tourneo Courier multi-purpose vehicle hitting showrooms in 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", Rowley added.
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In addition, Ford has also formed a battery joint venture in Turkey to help alleviate shortages associated with the chip shortage, which has throttled production across Europe since its onset in 2020. This venture is currently in the feasibility stage.
Set to be located in Ankara, production is expected to start by the mid-decade and could produce anywhere from 30-45 GWh of EV batteries.
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