In a momentous event, Ford has officially opened its latest automotive plant, the Cologne Electric Vehicle Center, poised to revolutionize the production of electric vehicles (EVs) for European customers. Situated on the picturesque banks of the River Rhine in Cologne, Germany, this cutting-edge facility represents a remarkable transformation of a historic factory established in 1930.
Reports from The New York Times, citing The Street, indicate that Ford enlisted the services of renowned architect Edmund Koerner from Essen to spearhead the construction of the wharf. The entire project, estimated at a cost of USD 1,000,000, serves as a testament to Ford’s commitment to innovation and advancement.
Highlighting the significance of this new facility, a Ford spokesperson stated, “This state-of-the-art factory will be the birthplace of more than 18 million vehicles, including iconic models such as the Ford Model A, Taurus, Capri, Granada, and Fiesta” (quoted from The Street, Tuesday, June 13, 2023).
The establishment of this cutting-edge factory signifies a new era for Ford. Earlier this year, the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker made headlines by announcing the discontinuation of the Ford Fiesta sedan, a model that had been in production since 1976.
“Our Cologne EV Center will not only be Ford’s first carbon-neutral assembly center globally but will also play a pivotal role in our commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035,” explained the spokesperson.
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Spanning across 125 hectares of land, the facility is equipped with a state-of-the-art production line, battery assembly capabilities, and advanced tools and automation. These advancements enable the factory to achieve an impressive annual production capacity of over 250,000 electric vehicles. The inaugural vehicle to roll off the assembly line will be the Explorer, a five-seater family SUV.
In a statement, Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “The opening of the Cologne EV Center marks the beginning of a new era for clean manufacturing and electric vehicles in Europe.”
As part of its ambitious plans for the European market, the legacy automaker aims to sell 600,000 fully electric cars by 2026, with a comprehensive transition to 100% electric vehicles by 2035.
Ford further elaborated that the Cologne Center will serve as a showcase for cutting-edge digital advancements, seamlessly integrating machines, vehicles, and workers to create a harmonious ecosystem of self-contained machines, autonomous transportation systems, and real-time big data management.
“Ford is committed to supporting, rather than replacing, human excellence. Through the integration of new cognitive and collaborative robots, as well as augmented reality solutions, we aim to empower our employees,” elaborated the spokesperson.
According to the German Economic Research Institute, Germany surpassed the milestone of 1 million electric vehicles in January. The German government has set an ambitious goal of having 15 million electric cars on the road by 2030, showcasing its commitment to sustainable transportation.