Ford has officially started production of the electric Explorer EV at its factory in Germany. Ford invested almost two billion euros in this factory, as part of the transition to electric vehicles. The goal is to produce 250,000 electric cars a year, including the production of this compact SUV.

The car was originally supposed to be launched in September 2023, but due to the introduction of new battery standards, the production of this model was postponed. At the factory in Cologne, Ford produced the Fiesta model, but production was suspended last year in order to release full capacity for the production of the Ford Explorer EV.

This may not be the best time for Ford to start production of a new electric car considering that demand for EVs is on the decline. However, the American manufacturer expects good sales results.

Ford is considering selling gasoline and hybrid cars in Europe after 2030, which is the opposite of the original plan that only included electric vehicles. Also, demand for hybrids has increased in recent years, prompting automakers to reduce investment in EVs. The lack of charging infrastructure in Europe contributed to this, as well as the invasion of Chinese electric cars, which have been causing headaches for other manufacturers for a long time.

Source: Reuters