COULD THE FIESTA COME BACK AS A SMALL ELECTRIC CAR? FORD TO BRING OUT TWO AFFORDABLE EVS IN 2028

Ford is building two new affordable EVs for Europe - and the US powerhouse will use Renault's electric car platform to do so.

The news will fuel hope in Fiesta fans the now discontinued hatchback - Britain's best-selling car of all time - will be revived as a new, small EV.

The 'strategic partnership' between the two brands will deliver a 'new lineup of electrified passenger vehicles'. 

The dual partnership models will arrive in showrooms from 2028 but no specifics about either are yet known.

The Ford EVs will use Renault's Ampere platform - the platform that underpins the Renault 4 and 5 retro-inspired EVs - to build these 'affordable, innovative EVs'.

Ford's new 'product offensive' comes off the back off a tough year for the car giant in Europe.

It has seen market share drop to lows of 3.3 per cent (from past highs of 12 per cent) and a lack of appetite for its Capri and Explorer electric SUVs.

The forthcoming cars will be designed by Ford but developed by Renault. 

While the shared platform will 'leverage greater efficiency', the vehicles will be anchored by Ford's 'distinctive driving dynamics, authentic Ford-brand DNA and intuitive experiences'.

Jim Farley, president and chief executive of Ford Motor Company said: 'The strategic partnership with Renault Group marks an important step for Ford and supports our strategy to build a highly efficient and fit-for-the future business in Europe. 

'We will combine Renault's industrial scale and EV assets with Ford's iconic design and driving dynamics to create vehicles that are fun, capable, and distinctly Ford in spirit.'

Ford says this step, and its new product offensive, is 'driven by the introduction of new multi-energy, affordable cars and commercial vehicles designed to support customer choice on their journey to electrification'.

The new cars will 'enhance' Fords existing product range, which includes the Explorer and Capri EVs and the more affordable Puma Gen-E EV. 

Ford is hoping it will 'boost the company's competitiveness in an aggressive market'.

'Our plan is about unleashing the blue oval,' said Jim Baumbick, president of Ford Europe. 'We are leveraging strategic partnerships to ensure competitiveness, but we are obsessing over the product. 

'These will be fun-to-drive, fully connected vehicles that stand out from the crowd.'

So far Ford's EVs have failed to bite in Europe leading to Ford axing 1,000 jobs at its electric car plant in Cologne, Germany, after disappointing sales.

According to figures from industry body Jato Dynamics, Ford only sold 19,000 Explorer EVs in the first half of 2025 and even fewer Capris. 

It seems buyers are not being won over by Ford bringing back iconic nameplates and reinventing them for the EV era.

And yet Renault has used a similar strategy to runaway success. 

The Renault 5 E-Tech electric car has been a sales sensation, both in Europe and in the UK. 

Contrasting the Explorer and Capri figures, the R5 EV sold almost 50,000 units across Europe by July 2025 and topped UK sales charts in October, even outselling the Tesla Model Y to be Britain's best-selling electric car. 

Starting from £22,995 in the UK, its competitive pricing has been a big factor to its popularity, as has its retro-charm and funky features.

Renault Group has confirmed it will 'leverage these strong EV assets and competitiveness' to produce Ford's new affordable EVs at its state-of-the-art Ampere ElectriCity manufacturing hub in Northern France. This is where the R4 and R5 EVs are built.

As well as the passenger vehicle partnership, the two companies signed a letter of intent (LOI) for a European light commercial vehicle collaboration. 

Under this LOI, the partners will explore the opportunity to jointly develop and manufacture Renault and Ford's branded selected light commercial vehicles (LCVs). 

François Provost, chief executive of Renault Group said: 'Renault Group is proud to announce a new strategic cooperation with Ford, an iconic car manufacturer. 

'This partnership shows the strength of our partnership know-how and competitiveness in Europe. 

'In the long term, combining our strengths with Ford will make us more innovative and more responsive in a fast-changing European automotive market.'

Ford already has a partnership with Volkswagen Group with Ford using VW's MEB platform for its Explorer and Capri EVs. 

The two brands also co-operate to develop vans and pick-up trucks in a bid to reduce costs.

2025-12-09T14:14:00Z