Synopsis
Renault and Ford have formed a major partnership to jointly develop small, low-cost electric vehicles and commercial vans for the European market, aiming to cut costs and counter growing competition from Chinese automakers. The first jointly developed small EV—built at a Renault plant in northern France—is expected to hit European showrooms in 2028, filling a key gap in Ford’s lineup.
Reuters Renault will jointly develop small, cheaper electric vehicles for Ford for the European market and will also team up to produce commercial vans to cut costs and fend off rising competition from Chinese rivals, the companies said on Tuesday.
“We know we’re in a fight for our lives in our industry,” Ford CEO Jim Farley told reporters in Paris on Monday ahead of the announcement, when describing Ford’s response to the threat posed by cheaper Chinese competition. “There is no better example than here in Europe.”
Europe’s traditional automakers face an influx of Chinese rivals from BYD to Changan and Xpeng .
As part of the Ford-Renault partnership, the first of two planned small EVs – to be produced at a Renault plant in northern France – will reach European car showrooms in 2028. They will be smaller than any Ford plans for the U.S. market and fill a gap in the automaker’s lineup, Farley said.
The two automakers will also jointly develop Renault and Ford brand vans for Europe.
A POWERHOUSE FOR LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
“Together we can create a powerhouse of LCV in Europe that would be very difficult for the Chinese to compete with,” Farley said.
Although there are few Chinese brand vans on sale in Europe, Farley said the two companies “compete with them directly every day” in emerging markets.
“The Chinese will come soon and that’s why I don’t want to wait,” said Renault CEO Francois Provost.
The partnership was form
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