Ford will produce small electric cars and vans with France’s Renault in a bid to lower costs and accelerate development speed to survive the rapid rise of Chinese competition in Europe.
The two carmakers aim to launch the first of their jointly developed EVs in 2028 and expand the partnership to include collaboration in light commercial vehicles, where Ford retains strong market share in the bloc.
“We’re in the fight for our lives and our industry, and [there is] no better example than here in Europe,” Ford chief executive Jim Farley said in Paris, as he announced the partnership. “Together, we can create a powerhouse of light commercial vehicles in Europe. We believe this is a big differentiation compared to the Chinese.”