Ford has outlined its plans for further electric cars in Europe by revealing a new ‘start-up’ business unit called Ford Model e, which will deliver three new electric SUVs by 2024.
Two of these new all-electric models will be built at the firm’s Cologne factory, which is currently undergoing a $2bn transformation from being the home of the Fiesta supermini to an electric car factory with an on-site battery assembly plant. The other will be an electric version of the Puma crossover.
Ford has signed an agreement with Volkswagen Group to secure access to VW’s MEB platform for electric cars, which will form the basis of the two models set to be built in Cologne.
The first electric model to roll off the Cologne production line is described as a ‘medium-sized crossover’ with five seats, likely similar in size to the Volkswagen ID.4 and using the same technical basis. The brand says that the model will be capable of travelling 311 miles on a full battery, and that it will be revealed towards the end of 2022 before going on sale in 2023.
A name for the vehicle has not been confirmed and won’t be until the car is revealed. However, a teaser image hints at the new lighting signature planned for the car, which could introduce an all-new electric design language for Ford. The nose of the vehicle looks taller than that of the Mustang Mach-E, too.
The second electric model from Cologne will arrive in 2024, described by the brand as a ‘sports crossover’ and teased with another new lighting signature. It looks more compact, and lower than the mid-size SUV planned by the brand.
Following these two purpose-made EVs will be an electric version of the brand’s big-selling Puma crossover, of which 130,000 were sold across Europe in 2020. It will be built in Romania, taking over the capacity of the soon to be axed EcoSport crossover. No technical details have been confirmed, but to rival the likes of the Peugeot e-2008 a range eclipsing 200 miles will be necessary.
Alongside the passenger car announcement, Ford has also confirmed that four new-generation electric commercial vehicles will be available in Europe by 2024.
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