An all-new Ford electric vehicle for Europe by 2023 features as a part of the latest expansion of the company’s global alliance with Volkswagen announced last year.
Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen AG have recently signed agreements to expand their global collaboration with new joint projects in midsize pickup trucks, commercial vans, and electric vehicles segments. Plans for the agreements were first announced by the companies in July last year. The collaboration does not involve cross ownership between the two partners, which means both the brands will sell their respective vehicles – developed under joint projects – independently in every segment.
The alliance will lead to a “highly differentiated Ford electric vehicle” meant for the European market by 2023, says the joint statement. The new EV, which is likely to be a passenger car in all probability, will be built on Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive (MEB) that already underpins a number of electric cars from VW Group brands. With this product, Ford aims to expand its zero-emission line-up in the European market.
Ford further states that it could deliver 600,000 electric vehicles atop the MEB architecture over the years starting in 2023, which is designed to combine space and performance with electric drive. The new EV will be designed and engineered by Ford in Cologne-Merkenich, and will join the all-electric Mustang Mach-E in the company’s electric car line-up.
Ford has mentioned that two other electric models – Ford Transit Electric and Ford F-150 Electric pickup – developed separately by the company will be ready in two years time. It is yet to be seen whether these models meant for Europe and international markets will also embrace MEB platform.
Ford’s use of Volkswagen’s MEB architecture in Europe will represent another cornerstone in VW’s electric vehicle strategy, claims the alliance partners, and vows to explore additional ways to cooperate on electric vehicles.
