Thursday, December 12, 2024
Electric VehiclesLatestNews

Ford begins production of new electric drive units

Ford’s Halewood plant has achieved a significant milestone with the start of production of its new electric drive units.

These electric power units, which are critical to Ford’s electrification strategy, will power the electric versions of one of the UK’s best-selling vehicles, the Transit Custom and the Puma.

It follows a £380 million investment – including £30.9m of governmental support via the Automotive Transformation Fund – to transform Halewood from a traditional transmissions facility into an electric vehicle component manufacturing plant.

The Halewood facility now has the capacity to produce 420,000 electric drive units annually that will power Ford’s ambitious electrification goals.

Its production capacity will ensure that 70% of Ford electric vehicles sold in Europe, including models such as the E-Transit Custom, the E-Tourneo Custom and the Puma Gen-E, will be powered by UK-manufactured technology. The electric Puma Gen-E delivers efficiency of 13.1 kWh/100 km and up to 376 km on a full charge, with up to 523 km of city range.

Halewood and Dagenham will continue to support Ford UK’s annual export value as it manages the electric transition across its car and van line-up, it said.

Ford’s commitment to electric mobility includes hundreds of jobs at Halewood, it said, with employees upskilled to support Ford’s electric future. Apprentices and engineers have been trained in advanced electric vehicle technologies through £24 million investment in Dunton, Essex, including participation in prototype development and receiving training on electric drive unit assembly.

Kieran Cahill, Ford’s European Industrial Operations Vice-President, said:

“Ford is a global American brand with deep roots in Europe, and Halewood has been a cornerstone of that legacy for 60 years. It’s not just the state-of-the-art technology or the £380 million transformation that makes Halewood special—it’s the incredible team here. Their skill, dedication, and pride are what power our electrification journey.

“With Halewood leading the way as our first in-house EV component manufacturing site in Europe, we’re building a thriving future together, with nine electric vehicles on the road in Europe by 2025.”

Lee Meyers, Halewood Plant Manager said:

“The start of electric drive unit production at Halewood is a proud moment for us.

“We’re not only embracing an exciting technological transformation but also contributing to the UK’s electric future while investing in our team and community. This plant, our people, and the region have a bright future as part of Ford’s electrification journey.”

Image courtesy of Ford

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