In a major new collaboration to fight against emerging new Chinese brands, Ford and Renault Group have teamed up to develop passenger and commercial vehicles. The agreement will start with two affordable electric cars in Europe, but will also include light commercial vehicles.
The companies will explore the opportunity to collaborate in the commercial vehicle segment in Europe by jointly developing and manufacturing Ford- and Renault-branded selected LCVs. This will combine ‘decades of experience in the light commercial vehicle segment, as well as the industrial scale and extensive supply base of both companies’, creating a ‘formidable force poised to drive innovation and efficiency in the European market’.
Jim Farley, president and CEO at Ford Motor Company, said the partnership with Renault Group marked an important step for Ford and supports its strategy to ‘build a highly efficient and fit-for-the future business in Europe’.
He said: “We will combine Renault Group’s industrial scale and EV assets with Ford’s iconic design and driving dynamics to create vehicles that are fun, capable and distinctly Ford in spirit.”
François Provost, CEO Renault Group, added: “This partnership shows the strength of our know-how and competitiveness in Europe. In the long term, combining our strengths with Ford will make us more innovative and more responsive in a fast-changing European automotive market.”
Picture shows L-R: Jim Baumbick, president Ford Europe; Jim Farley, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company; François Provost, CEO Renault Group; and Josep Maria Recasens, CEO Ampere
