Ford heads for electric future in Europe

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Ford has revealed plans to electrify its model line-up in Europe - both cars and vans - with the confirmation of seven new all-electric models due by 2024.

Some like the Mustang Mach-E and E-Transit are available to drive or order already, and others such as the electric Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom were known about previously.

New electric vehicles revealed

However, there are also concrete plans for an electric Puma compact crossover, a mid-sized crossover, sport crossover, and electric versions of the Transit and Tourneo Courier models, taking the total to nine pure-EVs in the next two years.

The new models will help Ford achieve its aims of selling more than 600,000 electric vehicles in Europe in 2026, bringing total EV sales to two million models by the same date.

Production boost

Of course, to shift two million electric vehicles by 2026, manufacturing efforts need to be stepped up. As such, Ford has invested in its Cologne plant, which will kick things off with a new five-seat medium-sized electric crossover.

Considering almost 60% of all Ford passenger vehicles sold in 2021 were SUVs and crossovers, a focus on this body shape is understandable to kick-start Ford's electric ambitions.

The new crossover will have a range of more than 300 miles on a charge, with its name due to be revealed later this year and production starting in 2023.

Add in a second, sport-focused crossover confirmed for production on the same lines, and Ford's Cologne EV output will increase to 1.2 million vehicles over the next six years, made possible by a $2 billion (£1.52 billion) investment in the site.

These vehicles can't be produced without a steady supply of batteries, so Ford has also announced a joint venture with Turkish firm Koc Holding to create a battery production facility near Ankara, capable of producing 30-45 Gigawatt hours of cells a year by the middle of the decade.

Ford's Romanian base

Until Cologne comes online, the majority of Ford's new electric vehicles are due to come from its production facility in Craiova. The electric Ford Puma - due in 2024 - will be built there, and its importance cannot be overestimated considering it was the company's best-selling passenger vehicle in Europe in 2021.

The new Transit Courier eLCV and Tourneo Courier MPV will also be produced in Romania, with electric versions due to arrive in 2024.

Ford Model e

Underpinning all of the above and more is a new “global business unit”, Ford Model e. It is focused on the design, production, and distribution of electric and connected vehicles.

With such a huge focus on electric models for Europe it will effectively manage Ford's future in the region - at the same time it sees the dissolution of Ford of Europe after it was first created in 1967.

Jim Farley, Ford President and CEO, said: “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.

“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.”

The new Ford e unit is joined by three other business centres: the Ford Pro commercial division, Ford Drive (formerly Ford Mobility) and the financing arm Ford Credit.

The current range of Ford models - electric or otherwise - is available to lease from Gateway2Lease .

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