Ford has announced a delay in the series production of its highly anticipated Explorer SUV model at its Cologne facility. The reason behind this decision is to wait for the availability of the new generation of Volkswagen battery technology. Ford’s Chief in Germany disclosed this information during an interview at the Munich IAA car show on Monday.
The production timeline for the Explorer SUV has been pushed back by approximately six months, with the new expected start date being the summer of the following year. As a result of this shift, discussions are underway to assess the implications for the workforce at the Cologne plant.
See also: Ford Introduces All-New Electric Explorer Built on Volkswagen’s MEB Architecture for European Market
Earlier this year, Ford had announced plans to reduce its workforce in Europe, intending to cut one in nine jobs, including 2,300 positions at its Cologne and Aachen sites in Germany. However, the company committed to avoiding compulsory redundancies at these locations until the end of 2032.
Ford has been gradually expanding its electric vehicle (EV) lineup in Europe. Currently, the American automaker offers two all-electric SUVs and an e-Transit van in the region. Nevertheless, Ford has ambitious plans for the future, with seven new EV models slated for release by 2024. Two of these will be produced at the Cologne facility, and one in Romania.
Production of the second new model at the Cologne plant, also based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform, is expected to commence a few weeks after the first one, as per Ford’s Germany Chief, Sander.
While specific production targets for the new models have not been set, Sander noted that initially, they would not utilize the full capacity of the Cologne plant, which has a capacity of 250,000 units. Instead, production will be scaled up in response to the growing demand for electric cars.
See also: Ford Ends Production of Best-Selling Fiesta Model to Make Way for Electric Explorer SUV
In the European market, Ford registered 516,614 new passenger cars last year, securing a market share of 4.6%, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). However, the automaker has set an ambitious goal to increase its EV sales in Europe to over 600,000 units by 2026, reflecting its commitment to the rapidly evolving electric vehicle market.