Ford has commenced mass production of the new all-electric Ford Explorer at its first dedicated electric vehicle facility in Europe. This milestone follows a $2 billion investment that has transformed a historic plant into a state-of-the-art factory of the future.
The electric Ford Explorer is the first vehicle to roll off the line at the Ford Cologne Electric Vehicle Center. This significant step marks the beginning of a new era in producing high-quality electric passenger vehicles for the region. A second electric vehicle, a new sports crossover, will be revealed shortly, with production in Cologne starting later this year.
The new all-electric Explorer combines German engineering, American attitude, and superior standard specifications. It features battery electric powertrains for zero-tailpipe emissions while driving and boasts more than 600 kilometers of driving range on a single charge.
“To see the Cologne factory, founded by Ford in 1930, transformed into a state-of-the-art electric vehicle production facility is nothing short of amazing. The start of mass production of electric vehicles, with the new all-electric Explorer, marks the beginning of a new era for Ford in Europe,” said Kieran Cahill, Vice President, Manufacturing, Ford in Europe and International Markets Group.
The Cologne Electric Vehicle Center is equipped with cutting-edge artificial intelligence and a symphony of hundreds of carefully choreographed state-of-the-art robots, delivering a new generation of high-quality electric vehicles to Ford customers in Europe. The plant’s “digital twin” monitors and supports production line operators to ensure high-quality standards.
The facility is supported by self-learning machines and more than 600 new robots that execute welding, cutting, dusting, painting, and fusing tasks, ensuring precision, efficiency, and quality. A new control center monitors the entire assembly process in real time, right down to the quantity of every part and nut at each workstation. The plant’s “digital twin” is displayed via a giant touchscreen containing all workstations with information on tooling, material delivery, work safety, and more. Employees on the line provide further information on the status of their workplace through small touchscreens.
The Cologne Electric Vehicle Center is one of Ford’s most efficient vehicle assembly plants globally, supported by significant reductions in emissions, water usage, and energy consumption. Ford is working towards implementing a carbon neutrality pathway for the facility. With production now underway, greenhouse gas emissions data will be monitored and recorded for independent certification according to the latest international standards. Ford aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its European production footprint of facilities, logistics, and direct suppliers by 2035.
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