The Blue Oval is going green.
Ford has today announced that it plans to bring no less than 13 electrified cars to market by 2021, over a variety of segments. This is part of the Blue Oval’s greater plans to be more sustainable and ecologically friendly moving forward, with the first 13 cars likely to become platforms for broader electrification through the marque’s wide range of vehicles.
On the top of the list of upcoming green vehicles is an all-new, pure-electric compact SUV, which will boast a range of “at least” 480-kilometres. This particular EV is slated for production at the company’s facility in Flat Rock, Michigan, and will be brought to the North American, European, and Asian markets.
Next on the list will be a “high-volume autonomous vehicle,” which is targeted squarely at ride-hailing and ride-sharing services across the globe. As such, it’s unlikely that this EV will be sold directly to the public. It’ll be introduced initially for the North American market with a hybrid powertrain, while other markets will be considered based on feasibility and demand.
Two of the 13 planned electrified models are skirting controversy, though. The first being a Mustang Hybrid, which will offer as much power as the current 5.0-litre V8, but throw in much more torque. The Hybrid pony car will also be produced at the Flat Rock plant, and will hit the North American market by 2020. Other markets have not been confirmed for this model.
The second controversial model is a F-150 Hybrid, that is pipped to offer “powerful towing and payload capacity, and operate as a mobile generator.” The F-150 Hybrid will be available officially in North America and the Middle East. And in 2019, Ford will add a plug-in hybrid option to the Transit Custom van, as well as bring about two pursuit-rated hybrid police cars to market (but these will come out of its Chicago facility).
All the cars listed above (with the exception of the police-pursuit hybrids) will be produced at Ford’s Flat Rock facility, which is set to receive no less than US$700mil in investment, to bring its production capabilities up to snuff, and will benefit from a new Manufacturing Innovation Centre. The money in question has been re-appropriated from another project, after Ford abandoned plans to set up a manufacturing facility in Mexico, that was reported to cost US$1.6-billion.
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