The new plant transformation, costing about $2 billion, highlights Ford’s robust move towards electrification. Kieran Cahill, Vice President of Manufacturing at Ford in Europe and International Markets Group, stated, “The start of mass production of electric vehicles, with the new all-electic Explorer, marks the beginning of a new era for Ford in Europe.” This facility has been completely revamped to support the evolving auto industry's demands toward sustainable solutions.
Further enhancing its product lineup, Ford plans to introduce a second electric vehicle—a sports crossover—later this year at the same location. The all-electric Explorer boasts impressive features like a driving range exceeding 600 km on a single charge.
Technological innovations are also evident in the production processes at the Cologne Electric Vehicle Center. It now houses self-learning machines and over 600 new robots that perform various tasks such as welding and painting. Rene Wolf, Managing Director of Manufacturing at Ford-Werke GmbH emphasized the technological edge saying, “By monitoring and controlling every step of the manufacturing process, Ford will achieve unprecedented levels of quality for our customers.” The facility includes a state-of-the-art control center and a digital twin system that aids in real-time monitoring and management across assembly operations.
Ford has been assembling cars in Cologne since 1930 and produced its classic compact Ford Fiesta there. Fiesta production came to an end last year amid preparations for the electric model.
Source: Ford