Ford and Renault Group have announced a strategic partnership to expand the former’s electric vehicle lineup in Europe. Two new models are planned for 2028, and while they’ll be built on Renault’s Ampere (AmpR) platform, they’re expected to come with a distinctly Ford twist.
Ford has been rethinking its global electric vehicle (EV) strategy, recently revealing plans to invest in a new dedicated platform aimed largely at making more affordable SUVs and trucks for the American market. But Europe is a very different battlefield. Smaller, more efficient, and more accessible EVs dominate the streets there, and that’s where Renault’s expertise comes in.
According to a joint press release, the two upcoming Ford models will be based on the AmpR architecture — Renault Group’s dedicated EV platform designed for modularity, cost efficiency, and software-defined vehicle capabilities. It currently underpins mainstream models such as the Renault 5 E-Tech, Twingo E-Tech, and Megane E-Tech, all of which have played key roles in Renault’s EV success in Europe.
With the AmpR platform proven in compact, affordable hatchbacks, the partnership strongly hints at the revival of smaller Ford nameplates — possibly even the return of the Ford Fiesta as an EV, as compact EVs have been gaining serious traction in the region.
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Discontinued globally in 2023, the Fiesta was one of Ford’s most iconic and best-selling models in Europe. A reboot, utilising one of the most successful EV platforms in recent years, could bode well for the Fiesta to return to the top of the sales charge. A report from Autocar said that the Renault 5 E-Tech alone sold over 100,000 units in just a little over a year, becoming one of Europe’s most popular EVs.
Beyond a Fiesta-sized model, the partnership could also result in a successor to the Ford Puma. With the AmpR platform already supporting compact crossovers in Renault’s lineup, Ford could easily revive the Puma as a small electric SUV — or better yet, reintroduce the Focus nameplate.
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Despite sharing many of its underpinnings with Renault, the new models should be quite different to its French counterparts. Ford assured that its models “will feature distinctive driving dynamics, authentic Ford-brand DNA and intuitive experiences.”
Ford Motor Company, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), 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 Group’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,” he added.
In support of this statement, Renault Group CEO, François Provost, said, “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.”
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