Ford today opened the Cologne Electric Vehicle Center, a hi-tech production facility in Germany that will build Ford’s new generation of electric passenger vehicles for millions of European customers.

Ford executive chair Bill Ford and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will officially open the Ford Electric Vehicle Centre on Monday, June 12.

Tim Slatter, who has been chair of Ford in Britain since January 2022, has a new global Product Development role as head of Vehicle Programs for the Ford Blue combustion and hybrid vehicle business, a group previously led by Trevor Worthington who has retired.

Since the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement was signed in 2020, Ford has invested heavily in electric vehicles across Europe.

Ford is spearheading research into the potential for hydrogen as an on-board energy source for its acclaimed E-Transit. The project will establish if hydrogen fuel cell technology can deliver more zero-emission range to heavy-use E-Transit customers travelling high mileages, with maximum loads, ancillary equipment such as chillers and with limited charging opportunities in the working shift.

Ford today delivered a watershed moment with the introduction of a Level 2 hands-free advanced driver assistance system with regulatory approval for use on the motorway network in Great Britain – the first system of its kind approved in Europe.