Ford's Cologne plant activity appears to be seriously compromised
- Following the European Commission's directive concerning the ban of new thermal vehicles in 2035 in Europe, the Ford plant in Cologne (Germany) has been converted in 2024 from the production of thermal vehicles (Ford Fiesta) to the production of battery electric vehicles (Ford Explorer, Ford Capri).
- But the production level is not the same as during the Fiesta era. For 2024, Inovev estimates the production volume of the Cologne plant at 20,000 units, compared to 140,000 vehicles in 2020 or 239,000 in 2019. These 20,000 units correspond to the start of production of the Ford Explorer and Ford Capri. For 2025, this volume could represent a volume of 40,000 to 50,000 units according to Inovev, based on the 10,500 units already registered between in the first quarter of 2025. This represents a fifth of the carmaker's objectives, which were 250,000 vehicles per year, and half of Inovev's forecasts (see Auto Analyse 2024-19 of September 9, 2024). which are 100,000 vehicles per year.
- It is clear that the Explorer and Capri models are not meeting the expected success, particularly due to their high prices (40,000 to 54,000 euros for the Explorer and 42,500 to 56,500 euros for the Capri) which do not correspond in any way to what Ford had previously offered in the mid-range.
- As a result, the Ford plant in Cologne seems truly threatened, especially since no other models are planned for this factory, competition will increase and Ford is gradually becoming a small carmaker in Europe in the passenger car market (3% of the European market in the first 4 months of 2025). Ford Europe could leave the European passenger car market to focuse on the more profitable light utility vehicle market (of which it holds 19% in 4 months of 2025).