According to a German press report, Ford will announce an ambitious plan next week to accelerate its electrification strategy. Among other novelties, the US manufacturer is expected to confirm the start of production of its first electric car based on Volkswagen’s MEB modular platform.
Internal company sources indicate that this vehicle will begin to be assembled at the Cologne plant (Germany) in 2024, replacing the Fiesta on the factory’s assembly lines. It is not clear what will happen to the historical utility, although it is most likely that its production will be transferred to another of the brand’s European factories.
At the moment, the format that this first model will have is unknown, although it seems unlikely that it is a derivative of the Volkswagen ID.4, similar in size and price to the Ford Mustang Mach-E. Therefore, the oval firm bet on a compact derived from the Volkswagen ID.3 or a smaller SUV equivalent to the Ford Puma.
Even though this news assures the future of the Cologne plant, the new electric model’s award is likely to lead to staff cuts. However, until Ford confirms these plans next week, it will not precisely know the effects that its electrification process will have on its European centers.