Ford admits its plan for electric cars in Europe is “too ambitious.” Hybrids will remain in service

The American automaker planned to achieve a complete “greening” of the model range in this region by 2030. Now Ford is likely to extend the life of its hybrids.

Several years ago, many companies very cheerfully entered the era of total electrification: they promised to completely abandon cars with internal combustion engines in a relatively short time. This was facilitated, among other things, by increasingly stringent environmental standards, especially for the old-world market. One very important factor prevented the achievement of the set goals — low (according to manufacturers) demand for electric trains.

In the photo: Ford Focus ST-Line

Because of this, a number of manufacturers have already had to reconsider their development strategies. Earlier, changes in plans were announced by Volkswagen (the concern had to temporarily shut down its factories producing “green” models), as well as Toyota, Renault, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and Cadillac. Now it’s Ford’s turn.

As Marin Jaya, head of the “green” division of Ford Model E, told the British publication Autocar, the company admitted that the plan to transfer the European line to only electric vehicles by 2030 was “ too ambitious.» He added that «everyone in the industry has learned this the hard way.»

In the photo: Ford Puma ST-Line

While the demand for completely “green” cars grows to the desired level, the manufacturer intends to offer customers a “wide range of hybrids.” According to a Ford spokesperson, interest in hybrids is a result of “consumer hesitancy toward electric vehicles driven by high battery costs and the removal of government incentives.”

Currently, Ford offers several models with such a «filling» (the list of options includes regular hybrids, as well as PHEV and MHEV units) on the Old World market: Puma, Focus, Kuga and Explorer: we are talking about a global model, and not a purely electric Explorer addressed only to Europeans. It is possible that the manufacturer will increase the service life of these cars.

In the photo: Ford Kuga plug-in hybrid ST-Line

Marin Jaya hinted that the company may change its development strategy on the European market until 2030, but did not say what adjustments will be made. He only explained that switching exclusively to electric vehicles by the specified date would not be a “good choice for business or especially for Ford customers.”

Nevertheless, the brand will continue to sell fully electric models in Europe. One of them in the near future will be a crossover coupe with the revived name Ford Capri. Let us recall that its closest relative is the Volkswagen ID.5. Production of the new Ford model will be set up at the plant in Cologne, where the European Explorer EV is currently being produced.