Ford going electric in Europe by 2030

Ford says its entire European passenger vehicle line-up will be all-electric by 2030.

And all Ford cars will be available in electric or hybrid models by mid-2026, it adds.

The announcement has come from Ford Europe president Stuart Rowley who says Ford will spend about US$1 billion upgrading its Cologne factory to produce EVs for the mass market by 2023, the BBC reports.

Rowley says the announcement about Cologne is among the most significant Ford has made in more than a generation.

“It underlines our commitment to Europe and a modern future with electric vehicles at the heart of our strategy for growth.”

Ford’s electric Transit van is due in Europe in early 2022 and in New Zealand about mid-2022, EVs and Beyond reported.

Ford’s electric move follows that of several other major automotive manufacturers such as Jaguar Land Rover, General Motors and Volvo.

This year, European car manufacturers face fines if they fail to meet emissions standards, with the United Kingdom intending to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, and France doing the same by 2040.

It has also been revealed Coventry Airport in the UK could be the site of a plant to make EV batteries, following the UK government’s earlier announcement of 500 million pounds funding as part of a 10-point plan to support electrification of vehicles.