23:59 09-12-2025

Renault and Ford to co-develop affordable EVs for Europe

A. Krivonosov

Renault and Ford join forces to build two affordable EVs on the Ampere platform, with French production and first model due in 2028, plus plans for electric LCVs.

Europe’s electric-vehicle market has picked up fresh momentum after a strategic agreement between Renault Group and Ford. The two companies are teaming up to develop and build two new affordable EVs that Ford is engineering on the Ampere platform. This architecture is set to underpin a broader range of mainstream models aimed squarely at the European Union.

Production will be based at Renault’s plants in France, a move that trims logistics and should speed time to market. The first series model from the partnership is expected in early 2028, SPEEDME.RU reports. Even with Renault technology at the core, the future EVs are promised to keep Ford’s identity through brand-specific chassis tuning, driving feel, and user experience. That blend—shared hardware with distinct calibration—often proves the sweet spot in Europe’s crowded segments.

In parallel, the companies signed a letter of intent to explore joint work on light commercial vehicles. The focus is timely for Europe, where demand for compact vans and electric LCVs continues to climb.

By pooling engineering resources, scaling component supply, and tightening manufacturing efficiency, the partners aim to address tougher EU environmental rules more effectively. In this landscape, the real competition increasingly revolves around technology and total cost of ownership rather than brand isolation—a pragmatic shift that favors collaboration over going it alone.

The 2025 car market has already shown that strategic cooperation is the clearest route to making EVs more attainable. The Renault–Ford alliance could become one of the standout examples of this new industrial reality.

Caros Addington, Editor