Ford previously announced plans to launch its new Explorer e-SUV in early 2024 for European customers as it aims to end Tesla Model Y’s dominance.
However, a recent announcement from the automaker revealed that it would postpone the original timeline by another six months.
What might have caused the delay?
Ford aims to start producing the VW MEB platform-based Explorer EV this month at the Cologne factory in Germany.
For context, the company just launched this Electric Vehicle Center in June 2023. Since then, Ford began implementing a gradual production ramp-up to prepare for the sales start in 2024.
Local publication Kölnische Rundschau claims that the delay might have been due to the new global safety standards for drivetrains. It explained that the six-month delay was intended to make up for the new regulations that would soon kick in. Simply put, Ford aims to adhere to the changes before launching its EVs worldwide.
It further noted that Ford announced the planned production delay to its Cologne factory workers on August 10.
However, the publication did not elaborate on the “global safety rules” it mentioned.
InsideEVs indicated that the “European Union will make some additional assistance systems compulsory for all new cars starting in 2024. For newly homologated vehicles this obligation has already been applied since July 6, 2022, and from 2024 it will also be enforced for vehicles with older type approval.”
See Also:
- Ford halts iconic Fiesta model production to pave the way for the upcoming electric Explorer SUV
- Ford withdraws initial EV production target due to “slower-than-expected adoption”
- Former Apple & Tesla exec aims to introduce subscription services to Ford’s EVs
- Former Apple & Tesla exec aims to introduce subscription services to Ford’s EVs
With the significant delay, customers must expect the Ford Explorer EV to hit the European market by the summer of next year.
The American automaker has started accepting non-binding reservations for the new all-electric SUV model since its March 2023 debut. However, it has yet to disclose the final powertrain details of the EV.
As for the pricing, Ford aims to sell the Explorer EV at sub 45k euros ($49,600).
