Ford and Renault team up on cheaper EVs in a ‘fight for our lives’

In Brief

Ford CEO Jim Farley acknowledged the automaker is successful “a combat for our lives successful our industry” arsenic it seeks to stay competitory successful Europe amid unit from Chinese competitors. One of its weapons to stave disconnected those threats is simply a concern with French automaker Renault Group.

The 2 automakers announced an statement Tuesday to bring 2 affordable Ford-branded electrical vehicles to the European marketplace successful 2028. Ford volition pb the plan and Renault volition assemble the vehicles astatine its mill successful bluish France. The EVs volition beryllium built connected Renault’s exertion level known arsenic Ampere.

The companies person besides agreed to “explore” making airy commercialized vehicles together.

The concern is portion of what Ford has described arsenic the next signifier of its European translation — a program that aims to marque the U.S. automaker much agile and outgo businesslike successful a marketplace teaming with cheaper Chinese vehicles from companies similar BYD and SAIC Motor.

“As an American company, we spot Europe arsenic the frontline successful the planetary translation of our industry,” said Farley successful a statement. “How we vie present — however we innovate, partner, and put — volition constitute the playbook for the adjacent generation. We are committed to a vibrant aboriginal successful Europe, but that aboriginal requires america to determination with greater velocity and ratio than ever before.”

Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news