Ford accelerates electric momentum in Europe

With 9 models including a new one shared with Volkswagen and an electric Puma, Ford aims for 600,000 sales in Europe by 2026.

Between Ford and Volkswagen, the partnership is unusual but goes even further. The first joint efforts began in the 1990s, through the Sharan/Galaxy minivans. Since then, each has continued independently but reconnected in 2018. Initially, the two automakers developed commercial vehicles. A pickup platform for Ranger/Amarok is intended to assist the F-150, and the 1-ton payload van will replace the Transit Custom.

Another area of collaboration is electric vehicles. While the pickup is a Ford specialty, this area is Volkswagen’s domain. The German brand lent its MEB platform for its ID Buzz or ID5 for a 5-seat electric SUV with 500 km range, promised for 2023. This Monday, they are doubling down.

2 Ford models based on VW and an electric Puma

In addition to this model, a second will support it, announce the two companies. Still based on VW, this electric vehicle will be “a sporty crossover” according to the visual in the announcement’s appendix. It showcases a unique visual signature, and will be manufactured in the same Cologne (Germany) factory. With this car, Ford doubles its target from 600,000 to 1.2 million units over a 6-year lifespan.

Apart from the partnership with Volkswagen, the brand confirms another electric SUV. This fourth member of the group will be the Ford Puma electric (or E-Puma?), launching in 2024. The first image suggests it will copy the combustion model, to compete with its cousin Volkswagen ID.3 and Renault Megane E-Tech Electric. Like the petrol or hybrid Puma, it will be assembled at the Craiova plant in Romania.

600,000 Ford electric vehicles in Europe by 2026

With 4 electric models in 2024, Ford hopes to boost its sales to 600,000 units annually by 2026 in Europe. Overall, the American giant aims for 2 million units worldwide by that date.

In the longer term, Volkswagen plans to make its future “SSP” platform available. This will be the basis for all the group’s electric productions, from Skoda to Bentley via Porsche, Audi, and Seat/Cupra. It could therefore attract Ford, which has not yet announced plans for an electric architecture for its future models.

A wave of Ford electric utility vehicles

Remember, Ford split its company into several parts. “e” for electric, “Blue” for combustion engines, and “Pro” for commercial vehicles. In Europe, the Blue Oval will launch 5 new models in this last category.

The large E-Transit van should finally arrive in 2022, followed by its smaller siblings. The Transit Custom van will be included in the lineup in 2023, and the small Transit Courier in 2024, along with their passenger versions called “Tourneo.” The Ford Otosan joint venture based in Turkey will handle their production at the Romanian Puma plant.

5 key points to remember:

• 4 Ford electric cars by 2024 including the Mustang Mach-E
• 2 SUVs based on Volkswagen MEB
• The electric Puma produced in Romania in 2024
• 5 utilities including 4 new Transit/Tourneo models
• 600,000 EVs produced annually by 2026 in Europe

Also read: Kia aims for 1.2 million electric cars by 2030