- Renault will construct two fashions with the Ford badge.
- Each shall be EVs primarily based on a Renault platform.
- Ford CEO claims the 2 automobiles can have ‘a swagger that’s particular to Ford of Europe.”
Ford of Europe wants an inflow of contemporary fashions, and it wants it quick. Its share of the brand new passenger automotive market on the continent continues to shrink, falling to simply 2.8 p.c within the first two months of the 12 months. Registration numbers revealed by the European Vehicle Producers’ Affiliation present a 20.3 p.c drop to 55,025 items.
You would argue that the primary two months of the 12 months don’t inform the entire story. That’s true, however the outlook for the remainder of 2026 isn’t encouraging both. Focus production ended last November, which means the as soon as vastly widespread compact mannequin now sits within the automotive graveyard alongside the Ka, Fiesta, and Mondeo.
The Puma and Kuga crossovers can solely achieve this a lot, so there’s a transparent want for extra merchandise. Whereas the Volkswagen-based Explorer and Capri EVs haven’t actually moved the needle, Ford is now turning to Renault. One other pair of electrical autos is on the best way, however the first mannequin received’t go on sale till early 2028. Within the meantime, the Blue Oval should make do with none non-SUV fashions. Properly, there’s the Mustang, however it’s hardly a quantity vendor.
2025 Renault 5 E-Tech Electrical
Picture by: Renault
Regardless of the two-year hole in its European lineup, Ford’s CEO is optimistic concerning the future. In an interview with Top Gear journal, Jim Farley mentioned the corporate is now growing “ardour merchandise” whereas pledging: “no extra generic autos.” The 2 EVs presently in improvement will sit on Renault’s Ampere platform, which means they’ll be associated to small automobiles just like the Twingo, 4 E-Tech Electrical, and the 5 E-Tech Electrical.
‘Whether or not they’re primarily based on a VW or Renault platform, we’re going to execute these automobiles with a swagger that’s particular to Ford of Europe.’
Within the meantime, Ford of Europe continues to lose market share, and it’s not simply to long-running firms. Whereas the likes of Volkswagen Group, Stellantis, and the Hyundai Group proceed to tug forward due to their huge lineups, newcomers from China are respiratory down Ford’s neck.
Within the first two months of the 12 months, BYD’s market share hit 1.9 p.c with 36,069 registrations. SAIC is even nearer to Ford, with 41,454 registrations, representing 2.1 p.c of the market. Chinese language carmakers are bringing an increasing number of fashions to Europe, and in the event that they keep this tempo, it’s solely a matter of time earlier than they overtake Ford. We wouldn’t be stunned if it occurs by the tip of the 12 months, particularly now that the Focus is not any extra.
2025 Renault Twingo E-Tech Electrical
Picture by: Renault
Motor1’s Take: Ford of Europe is in a troublesome place, and we’re not satisfied the 2 Renault-based EVs will flip issues round. Given the tempo of recent product launches from rivals, the upcoming fashions will face stiff competitors from day one. There are already loads of small-to-compact EVs to select from, whether or not from conventional automakers or China.
Nonetheless, we wouldn’t write off Ford in Europe’s passenger automotive market simply but. Though the times when it battled Volkswagen neck and neck are lengthy gone, it stays an automotive juggernaut. It’s performing nicely within the industrial sector and definitely has the means to reignite clients’ curiosity within the passenger section. It stays to be seen whether or not it will occur through a Renault shortcut.
