Ford announces Europe strategy shift and Renault collaboration

Ford detailed its updated Europe strategy, including a new partnership with Renault and plans for multi-energy vehicles to support the region’s shift.

Ford is entering a new phase of its European strategy, emphasizing agility, technological progress and a refreshed product direction. The company aims to reinforce its position in a region where competition is intensifying and environmental regulations continue to tighten. At the center of this renewed plan are a strategic partnership with the Renault Group, a broad future product lineup, and a call for political alignment on realistic climate targets.

Ford structures its strategy around three key pillars. First, it intends to build further on the strength of Ford Pro, the commercial vehicle and digital services division that has become a cornerstone of the company’s stability in Europe. Second, the brand is preparing to expand its passenger car offering with a wave of new models featuring multiple electrified powertrain options designed to support customers in their transition toward electrification. The third pillar is the optimization of Ford’s industrial footprint, aimed at increasing scale and improving cost efficiency.

The newly announced strategic partnership with the Renault Group stands at the heart of this next phase. The two companies will jointly develop two electric vehicles based on Renault’s Ampere platform, with Ford leading the design and driving dynamics to ensure the models retain a distinctive Ford identity. In parallel, the companies will explore the joint development of light commercial vehicles, unlocking additional scale benefits and expanding market reach.

This approach continues Ford’s long-standing practice of building strong alliances in Europe. The company already collaborates successfully with the Koc Group through Ford Otosan and maintains a strategic partnership with Volkswagen, under which current Ford electric vehicles are produced at the Cologne Electric Vehicle Center. These partnerships reinforce Ford’s production network and lay the groundwork for the upcoming generation of multi-energy vehicles expected to reach dealers in 2028.

Ford stresses that the continued development of the electric-vehicle market requires coordinated action between industry and policymakers. Today, fully electric cars account for 16.1 percent of new registrations in Europe—far below the level needed to meet stringent CO2 targets by 2025. The company warns that without adjustments to regulatory goals and a stable system of incentives, the shift to electrification may become burdensome for consumers and small businesses alike. The challenge is particularly apparent in the light commercial vehicle segment, where only 8 percent of new vans are electric.

Ford proposes three areas for political dialogue: aligning emissions goals with market realities, establishing consistent incentives for consumers, and supporting the broader economy, where commercial vehicles serve as essential tools for thousands of businesses across Europe. According to the company’s leadership, such a comprehensive approach is the only way to sustain the pace of transformation and make it genuinely accessible.

The updated strategy reflects Ford’s effort to combine pragmatic industry insight with an emphasis on innovation and collaboration. The company believes this balance will strengthen its position in the rapidly evolving European market and prepare the foundation for the next generation of vehicles.