COLOGNE, Germany — Ford will cut back its dependence on Volkswagen Group’s EV expertise because the U.S. automaker shifts its European lineup to electric-only.
After launching two new all-electric EVs primarily based on VW Group’s MEB electric-only structure, Ford will use its personal expertise for future electrical automobiles.
VW’s MEB platform was a transitional expertise for Ford and utilizing it saved the corporate no less than two years of growth time, Martin Sanders, Ford’s e-car growth supervisor in Europe, instructed Automotive News Europe sister publication Automobilwoche.
Ford is spending $2 billion to transform its manufacturing unit in Cologne, Germany, to construct two MEB-based automobiles, whereas ending manufacturing of the long-running Fiesta hatchback there.
By 2026, Ford plans to promote 600,000 electrical automobiles a 12 months in Europe.
The first MEB-based Ford EV will probably be unveiled in March and will probably be comparable in measurement to the VW ID4 crossover. Ford describes the second EV as a “sport crossover.” It will go into manufacturing subsequent 12 months in Cologne.
Ford additionally plans to transform its plant in Valencia, Spain, to construct software-defined EVs on a brand new electrical structure, starting later this decade. The plant presently builds the Kuga compact SUV, and the the Galaxy and S-Max giant minivans.
The new electrical automobiles EVs in-built Valencia is not going to use VW’s MEB structure.
“We will use a pure electric platform in Valencia. At the moment, however, it is still open as to when this will happen and which models we will build there,” Sander mentioned.
The Valencia-built EVs may also use the automaker’s personal software program with superior driver-assistance options. Ford and VW closed their Argo AI autonomous car expertise firm final 12 months.
Ford has mentioned its passenger lineup in Europe will turn out to be all-electric by 2030 and it expects two-thirds of economic van gross sales to be all-electric or plug-in hybrids by the identical date.
Source: europe.autonews.com
