(REU) FORD TO SEPARATE EV FROM ICE

A Ford all-electric F-150 Lightning truck prototype is seen at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, U.S. September 16, 2021 REUTERS/Rebecca Cook

March 1 (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co (F.N) on Wednesday will announce a reorganization under which its electric vehicle (EV) and internal-combustion engine (ICE) units will be run as separate businesses in a move to fast track growth in EVs, three people familiar with the plan said.

The EV and ICE businesses will have separate names but will remain under the Ford corporate umbrella, in the same way the company operates its Ford Pro commercial business for corporate customers, said the people, who asked not to be identified.

The U.S. automaker will name executives to lead each business and Ford will also outline updated profit margin targets for the company overall, the sources said. The idea is for Ford to eventually report separate financial results for the EV and ICE businesses, one of the sources said.

Ford spokesman T.R. Reid declined to comment on the report. "We're focused on carrying out our Ford+ plan to transform the company and thrive in this new era of electric and connected vehicles," he said. Reuters - link - Paul Lienert - link - Ben Klayman - link - David Shepardson - link - more like this (USA) - link - more like this - link

(ELE) FORD CONSIDERING EV MANUFACTURING IN INDIA

Ford Motor Co. shared it is considering the possibility of manufacturing EVs in India, just months after a halt to all sales and manufacturing in the Asian country. In addition to exploring EV manufacturing in India, Ford is also open to the idea of reopening its sales books in India for EVs only.

Ford India Private Ltd. was founded in 1995 as a subsidiary that launched several popular combustion models of the brand overseas. However, last September Ford HQ announced an end to all sales and manufacturing in India, citing global economic factors as well as a failure to keep pace with competitors in the Indian market.

Despite 25 years of sales in India, Ford held just 2% of the passenger vehicle market, admitting it had accumulated losses over $2 billion over the last ten years.

In this process Ford and several other automakers are willing to abandoned less lucrative market-ventures to refocus those funds toward electrification, a tremendous aspect of the automaker’s future strategy.

Following the latest comments from Ford, manufacturing in India might be back in play as long as its EV-focused. electrek - link - electrek muck rack - link - Scooter Doll - link - more like this (India) - link - more like this - link

(CNB) FORD GOES E-RETRO

All-electric Ford F-100 Eluminator concept truck

Ford Motor unveiled Tuesday a custom truck that combines its past with its future electrification plans, including its highly anticipated F-150 Lightning pickup in 2022.

The “all-electric Ford F-100 Eluminator concept truck” features the retro-styling of a 1978 F-100 pickup with electric motors and batteries from the automaker’s 2021 Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition. Its interior controls and screens also resemble the Mach-E electric crossover.

Ford built the vehicle to showcase its new “e-crate motor” that’s now on sale online and at its dealerships. Such “crate” engines or motors are assembled by the company but are available for general purchase for building, fixing or customizing vehicles.

“Our F-100 Eluminator concept is a preview of how we’re supporting customers as they go all-electric and embrace zero-tailpipe emissions performance, even for our heritage vehicles,” Ford global director of accessories and licensing Eric Cin said in a release.

The custom pickup also provides some hype for the automaker, as it prepares to launch its electric F-150 Lightning pickup during the first half of next year. Many view the pickup as a barometer for whether pickup truck customers — which dominate annual U.S. sales charts — are ready to switch to electric vehicles. CNBC - link - Michael Wayland - link - more like this - link

(REU) AMERICAN GIANT INVESTS IN BRITAIN

LONDON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Ford (F.N) said on Monday it would invest up to 230 million pounds ($316 million) to build electric car components at its Halewood factory in northern England.

The plant will produce around 250,000 power units a year from mid-2024, the first European in-house location to make electric vehicle parts for Ford, which has pledged that its car line-up for the continent will be all-electric by 2030.

The government is contributing to the investment through its Automotive Transformation Fund as brands intensify their electrification plans ahead of combustion engine bans, and countries vie with each other to secure jobs.

The British government has tended to provide around 10% of the total investment value for automotive firms.

"This is an important step, marking Ford’s first in-house investment in all-electric vehicle component manufacturing in Europe," said Ford's Europe President Stuart Rowley.

The carmaker also has a transmission facility in Cologne, Germany. Halewood, which employs around 500 people, was chosen due to "its excellent record on quality, competitiveness and the strong skills base and commitment of the employees", Ford said - Reuters - link - Costas Pitas - link - more like this - link