Is the Ford Fiesta now set to make an electric comeback? It sure looks like, thanks to Ford's announcement that it's setting up a strategic partnership with Renault. As part of that partnership, Ford will use Renault's Ampere EV platform, as already used by the Renault 4 and 5 E-Tech models.
What models will Ford make with Renault bits?
So far, nothing official has been announced, beyond a fairly bland statement announcing an expansion of: "Ford's electric vehicles offering to European customers, significantly enhancing competitiveness for both companies in the rapidly evolving automotive landscape in Europe. A cornerstone of this collaboration is a partnership agreement for the development of two distinct Ford-branded electric vehicles.”
You'd have to assume, given the fact that the Renault 5's platform was specifically designed for compact vehicles, that an electric successor to the Fiesta, and maybe a new generation of Puma, are on the cards.
When will the new models arrive?
Not till 2028 at the earliest for the first new Renault-based Ford, which will actually be built at Renault's factory in Douai, in France. That's a hugely significant factor - with Ford's existing tech-sharing agreement with VW, using the German car maker's MEB platform for the Explorer and Capri EVs, both of those cars are actually built in Ford's own factory in Cologne. This is the first time in history that a mainstream European Ford model won't be built in a Ford-owned factory since the Fiat 500 and Ford Ka were both built alongside one another in Poland.
How will the new Fords be different to Renaults?
Ford has said that it will be able to bring its own suspension and steering tuning techniques to the Renault Ampere platform, and that both new models will be "feature distinctive driving dynamics” and will be "distinct Ford-branded electric vehicles”.
What does this deal mean for Ford's VW connection?
As yet, that's unclear. So far, neither party has made any official comment, although as part of the Renault agreement, Ford has confirmed that it has signed a Letter of Intent for a European light commercial vehicle collaboration. Under this LOI, Ford and Renault will explore the opportunity to jointly develop and manufacture Ford and Renault-branded selected light commercial vehicles. Significantly, that's very similar to the deal Ford currently has with VW to co-develop vans, including the Caddy and transporter. Is Ford looking to end its VW partnership and expand its new deal with Renault? Or will this new deal bring the three companies together to make a shared lineup of new vans?
What else is Ford doing?
We know that Ford is going to try and turn around its recent decline in Europe - its market share has fallen from a historic high of 12 per cent to just four per cent today - and affordable EV models such as those it will now make with Renault are key to that. Sales of the Explorer and Capri have been so sluggish that Ford has actually trimmed 1,000 jobs at its Cologne plant recently. Ford has rolled back on its original promise to be an all-electric brand in Europe by the end of the decade, and it has announced that it will introduce - in 2027 - a new compact hybrid-engined SUV, with the Bronco badge, to be built in Spain (alongside the existing Kuga) as a partial replacement for the Focus hatchback, which finally ended production in November.
Ford CEO Jim Farley said: "The strategic partnership with Renault Group marks an important step for Ford and supports our strategy to build a highly efficient and fit-for-the-future business in Europe. We will combine Renault Group's industrial scale and EV assets with Ford's iconic design and driving dynamics to create vehicles that are fun, capable and distinctly Ford in spirit.”
François Provost, CEO of Renault Group, said: "Renault Group is proud to announce a new strategic cooperation with Ford, an iconic car manufacturer. This partnership shows the strength of our partnership know-how and competitiveness in Europe. In the long term, combining our strengths with Ford will make us more innovative and more responsive in a fast-changing European automotive market.”