Automobile major Ford is investing $1 billion in an electric vehicle production facility in Cologne, Germany, with the European arm of the automotive giant committing to go “all-in” on electric vehicles in the years ahead.
Ford said its entire passenger vehicle range in Europe would be “zero-emissions capable, all-electric or plug-in hybrid” by the middle of 2026, with a “completely all-electric” offering by 2030.
The investment in Cologne will see the company update an existing assembly plant, converting it into a facility focused on the production of electric vehicles.
“Our announcement to transform our Cologne facility, the home of our operations in Germany for 90 years, is one of the most significant Ford has made in over a generation,” Stuart Rowley, president of Ford of Europe, said in a statement.
Earlier this week, Jaguar Land Rover announced that its Jaguar brand would go all-electric from the year 2025. The company, which is owned by Tata Motors, also said its Land Rover segment would roll out six “pure electric variants” over the next five years.
South Korean carmaker Kia will launch its first electric vehicle this year.
Germany’s Volkswagen Group is investing approximately 35 billion euros (around $42.27 billion) in battery electric vehicles and says it wants to roll out roughly 70 all-electric models by 2030.