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On Tuesday, Ford Motor revealed its first-ever electric vehicle that is exclusively designed for the European market. The company intends to use the well-known Explorer nameplate to gain traction in this market. This EV crossover is part of Ford’s initiative to transition its European lineup to a completely electric vehicle fleet by the year 2030.
Although the new vehicle shares some design elements with the gas-powered SUV in the U.S. or a plug-in hybrid version that’s currently available in Europe, it does not have many similarities other than the Explorer name. Ford’s naming strategy for its EVs involves leveraging its “most iconic” brands, such as the Mustang Mach-E crossover and F-150 Lightning, to gain market share.
According to the latest announcement by Ford, the midsize electric crossover will not be offered in the U.S. This is one of two vehicles expected to be released in Europe and utilizes the Volkswagen Group’s all-electric “MEB” platform. The vehicle will be produced at Ford’s factory in Cologne, Germany, as part of the collaboration between Ford and Volkswagen on electric and autonomous vehicles announced in 2019. The partnership is aimed at accelerating the production process for both companies.
Ford has plans to produce 1.2 million electric vehicles over six years using Volkswagen’s platform, which is double its previous production plans. The automaker expects to manufacture 600,000 EVs per year in Europe by 2026. The Explorer EV will be available in two trims: Explorer and Explorer Premium, with a starting price of fewer than 45,000 euros (about $48,250) when sales launch later this year. However, the expected range and other performance statistics are yet to be disclosed by the company.
According to Automotive News, Ford aims to reference its American roots more in the marketing and styling of European passenger cars. The Explorer EV, built in Cologne for European customers, is a trailblazer for a new breed of exciting Ford electric vehicles, as per Martin Sander, general manager of Ford’s European EV business.
Ford’s push for EVs comes amid a restructuring of its European operations, which has already resulted in thousands of layoffs. The automaker is working towards a “leaner, more competitive cost structure” for the region, according to Ford executives.
