One of our Son in laws works for the blue oval and sent this earlier this morning, he has been deeply involved with his abacus..and visits to Cologne..
From Ford's press release: „Ford's current range of electric vehicles from the alliance are produced at its new Electric Vehicle Center in Cologne, Germany.“
These are the Explorer and Capri models, which hardly anyone buys. We can only hope that affordable Fords (including affordable EVs) will once again be built in Cologne. Otherwise, the location is dead. For many decades, successful models such as the Fiesta were built here for the whole of Europe.
I can quite see Cologne being a base for a new EV Fiesta / Reault 5 model among other urban small commercials. We shall see.
VAG has gained greatly since Ford opened up their dealerships to their commercial sector, cooperation is the only way they will survive these days. Remarkably VAG had no commercial dealerships out there
2009 4/4 Sport Henrietta 1999 Indigo Blue +8 2009 4/4 Sport Green prev 1993 Con Green +8 prev
I still can't get why Ford killed the Fiesta off, in the top 10 best selling cars in the UK for perhaps 20 years & they can it without a proper replacement, and NO Ford we don't all want to drive bloated SUV's !
If you can’t beat them join them.. the R5 has rightly cornered the cheap ev market..
Unless it’s cheaper it will be tricky to beat the R5, only have to look at Mirca salsa
Still loving the R5, poor Morgan has only been out to pick up the Christmas tree, after 20 years of Morgan ownership as a daily driver since I as 21; but only 50k miles.
From Ford's press release: „Ford's current range of electric vehicles from the alliance are produced at its new Electric Vehicle Center in Cologne, Germany.“
These are the Explorer and Capri models, which hardly anyone buys. We can only hope that affordable Fords (including affordable EVs) will once again be built in Cologne. Otherwise, the location is dead. For many decades, successful models such as the Fiesta were built here for the whole of Europe.
Unfortunately, Germany is experiencing the same type of decline the Midlands experienced during its decline of the British Car Industry from the 70's onwards. Not just the loss of jobs in the industry itself but also the support/supply industries. Seismic changes that the MIdlands never recovered from.
22 Plus Four KIMI 12 Plus 4 Sport OZZY 08 Roadster FELIX 06 4/4 70th LOKI 77 4/4 SEAMUS 85 4/4 MOLLY
Ditto the US manufacturing market. If you look at the plan Mary Barra (CEO GM) put together she moved most of the manufacturing to China, good when they were friends, oops. I was in Detroit a few weeks back. A very different place to my previous visit 18 years before. So quiet.
I was watching a couple of videos on Youtoob on that today. EU car manufacturing is going to get badly hollowed out in the near future I suspect so collaborations will be more and more the way to go. Of course this depends on your belief of what you see on the web, a fair consideration. This chap is definitely on the opinionated end of the spectrum but has been right a lot more than he has been wrong so far.
I do hope someone gets smart and works out some way to bring a competitive edge to it. I see a horrible situation in Germany with the union and scale of car business there.
Everyone loves a Morgan. Even me, unless it's broken again.
We've had it in black and white for a few days now. Ford's new production of small and medium-sized EVs will be moved entirely to France in collaboration with Renault. No one knows what will happen to Cologne. Perhaps the brand-new EV factory could be used to build new EV Transits? There will be no more support from the US. As a farewell package, €2 billion has been invested in Cologne, but without any further responsibility being taken on. As far as I am aware, the fatal decision regarding Capri and Explorer also came from America.
Fingers crossed Heinz, the real problem behind the Ford USA protectionism is the Blue Collar workface out there is fearsome so Europe and UK are easier downsizing options I am reliably informed.
Yes EV Capri and Explorer are Elephantine fugly things with no customer base so perhaps the Yank Ford management will keep them across the pond next time.
Just ordered up a new Puma ST 170bhp mHEV 5 door in Digital Aqua Blue so a green washing hybrid model which will make a good sporty shopping trolley for me and enable me to help out ferrying less able people around for Dartmouth Caring Drs. appointments/hospital visits etc.
2009 4/4 Sport Henrietta 1999 Indigo Blue +8 2009 4/4 Sport Green prev 1993 Con Green +8 prev
