COLOGNE, Germany, March 11, 2026, 00:44 (CET)
Ford Motor rolled out an upgraded all-electric Explorer for Europe on Tuesday, swapping in a lithium iron phosphate battery for the standard-range model. The new chemistry, according to Ford, relies on fewer high-demand raw materials compared to typical EV batteries and bumps range by more than 60 km, now reaching up to 444 km on the WLTP cycle. Alongside the battery, Ford has fitted a more powerful motor, new driver-assist tech, and Pro Power Onboard—letting drivers plug devices straight into the vehicle’s battery. Orders are open right away. “We’re always looking for ways to improve our vehicles,” said Christian Weingaertner, who leads Ford Europe’s passenger-vehicles business. Ford From the Road
The timing is significant—Ford’s European EV unit is still on shaky ground. Back in September, the automaker announced plans to eliminate as many as 1,000 positions at its Cologne electric-car facility, shifting to a single shift starting January 2026. The culprit: demand that’s lagged far behind what the industry had projected.
The Explorer refresh comes on the heels of Ford dialing back its earlier electric-vehicle push. Back in December, the company recorded a $19.5 billion charge, canceled multiple EV initiatives, and signaled a new focus: more hybrids, longer-range vehicles, and cheaper EVs, responding to a sudden market shift.
Europe sits at the heart of that strategic shift. Back in December, Reuters reported that Ford and Renault were teaming up to produce smaller, more affordable EVs and vans for the European market. The first of those two planned small EVs is slated for 2028. For Ford, the urgency is clear: the company’s passenger-car market share in the region dropped to 3.3% in the first 10 months of 2025, down from 6.1% in 2019. “We know we’re in a fight for our lives in our industry,” CEO Jim Farley said at the time. Analyst Michael Foundoukidis of Oddo-BHF described the partnership as “a capital-efficient route to market for affordable EVs” for Ford. Reuters
Competition’s only heating up. On Tuesday, Renault announced plans to roll out 36 new models within five years and slash EV costs by 40% come 2030, aiming to protect its margins against pressure from Chinese automakers BYD and Chery, as well as longtime competitors.
Volkswagen echoed the sentiment from across the Rhine. On Tuesday, Europe’s largest automaker reported its 2025 operating profit had dropped by more than half, with tariffs and China weighing on results. The update highlights how established carmakers are struggling to balance investment in new electric vehicles against shrinking margins.
But there’s a hitch for Ford. Following pressure from automakers, Brussels has eased up on its original plans to phase out combustion-engine cars. Analysts point out that Europe isn’t quite ready for mass EV adoption yet—cheaper models and more charging points are still needed. Phil Dunne, managing director at Grant Thornton Stax, called the policy shift a window for Europe’s automakers to “compete” and start narrowing the gap with Chinese manufacturers. Reuters
Tuesday’s Explorer update didn’t seem to move the needle for investors. Ford stock hovered around $12.24 in late U.S. action, leaving its market cap near $47.6 billion.
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