Ford makes big electric push in Europe with new launches

[mahatmakanejeeves]

TECHNOLOGY NEWS | SEPTEMBER 10, 2019 / 7:35 AM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO
Ford makes big electric push in Europe with new launches
3 MIN READ

(Reuters) - Ford Motor Co said on Tuesday it would launch eight electric vehicles in Europe this year, a key step in its target of achieving a majority of its overall sales from electric cars by the end of 2022.

The launches include electric variants of the Kuga and Puma SUVs and the Mondeo sedan. The automaker also plans to launch 15 other electric vehicles by 2024 in Europe, including a new Mustang-inspired electric SUV next year.

The automaker unveiled the models at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany, and said it would partner with six leading energy suppliers across Europe to provide home charging wall box installation services.

The carmaker, like its rivals, has been facing stagnant demand and rising costs as it invests billions of dollars in electric, hybrid and autonomous vehicles in efforts to boost sales.

The company’s European business has been losing money for years and the pressure to restructure its operations increased after rival General Motors raised profits by selling its European Opel and Vauxhall brands to France’s Peugeot SA.
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[Miguelito Loveless]

1. Ford has made a few moves lately toward EVs

that look promising, but so far nothing concrete. A lot of announcements about models coming in the next two-three years, a number of concept cars, a few prototypes, but if you want an actual EV from Ford, the Focus is all they have.

GM cancelled its one PHEV (the Volt) due to low sales, but to be fair they really never tried to sell it, and it was pretty popular despite the lack of effort. The Bolt was supposed to be a "Tesla killer", but has so far not come close. In fact, the financial/automotive press is constantly heralding various EVs as "Tesla killer" when in fact they have a higher price, and/or lesser specs than the Tesla they are supposed to kill. In fact, the only thing these EVs pose a danger to is the legacy automakers' own gas/diesel lines, which is why they are quite hesitant about producing them in quantity, or outside CARB states, or prducing them at all.

Fiat/Chrysler had the Fiat 500e (now cancelled) and the Pacifica PHEV van, with specs that would have been impressive ten years ago, but now, not so much.

Car makers face "stagnant" demand for most of their models, but EVs are trending up, when they can actually be bought.