Ford will make affordable EVs with Renault, but you won’t get your hands on them

Ford and Renault are officially teaming up. They’ve signed a new strategic partnership that requires Renault to build two new Ford electric cars in Europe, using the former’s Ampere EV platform. The production will take place at Renault’s ElectriCity hub in northern France. Meanwhile, Ford will handle the design, tuning, and overall feel of the vehicles.

Both automakers have also signed a Letter of Intent to explore developing electric vans and commercial vehicles for sale in Europe. The first Ford-branded EV from this collaboration could arrive in early 2028. The partnership is a classic example of how legacy automakers are tackling rising pressure from EVs, especially from fast-growing Chinese brands.

While the partnership provides Ford with a ready-to-deploy, cost-efficient EV platform, instead of spending years and millions to build one on its own, Renault’s assembly lines will see busier times manufacturing cars for Ford. The companies might not like to admit it, but the partnerships sound more like a survival plan on the ground.

If you’re a prospective EV customer in Europe, or if you follow developments in the EV sector, this partnership should result in EVs with Ford’s familiar design language and driving character, but at a more affordable price point (due to Renault’s cost-effective EV platform). For everyday drivers who don’t want to spend a fortune on a fancy electric vehicle, these models could offer the practicality and affordability they need.

The Ford-Renault partnerships could also benefit small businesses and fleet operators, as the automakers may work on electric vans. For our readers in the United States, this alliance shows how quickly the EV landscape is changing and how major auto players have to rely on collaborations rather than competition to survive in specific markets. Whether the partnerships pan out the way the automakers plan them to be is something that will unfold in 2028.

As and when the companies successfully co-develop and release the first few vehicles, they could expand the partnership to more models and deepen technology sharing. If the cars sell well, expect to see more such cross-company collaborations, especially as automakers look for faster, cheaper ways to launch new vehicles, especially EVs, into the market.