Ford has celebrated a milestone at its Cologne plant as the first all-electric Explorer has rolled off the manufacturing line.
Ford will build two EV models at the historic Cologne plant. The all-electric Explorer is the first. The second will be a sports crossover EV that Ford will unveil at a later date. This second EV will begin mass production later this year.
The all-electric Explorer includes battery-electric powertrains that deliver zero tailpipe emissions while driving. Ford says the SUV has a range of more than 600 kilometers (372.823 miles) on a single charge.
Ford based this claim on a single charge of the Explorer RWD extended range.
“Explorer is a trailblazer for a new breed of exciting Ford electric vehicles,” said Martin Sander, general manager of Ford Model e, Europe.
“Steeped in our American roots but built in Cologne for our customers in Europe, it is road trip-ready for the big adventures and fully loaded with everything our customers will need for their daily drives.”
The Cologne factory underwent a major transformation
Ford has a stated goal of reaching carbon neutrality across its European production footprint of facilities, logistics, and direct suppliers by 2035. The Cologne factory is a key part of this process.
The factory, which Ford founded in 1930, underwent a massive transformation after Ford made a $2 million investment. The plant now features “cutting-edge AI and a symphony of hundreds of carefully choreographed state-of-the-art robots” as it produces the electric Explorer.
There are more than 600 new robots taking care of numerous tasks. The list includes welding, cutting, dusting, painting, and fusing tasks.
“To see the Cologne factory founded by Ford in 1930 being transformed into a state-of-the-art electric vehicle production facility is nothing short of amazing,” said Kieran Cahill, vice president of manufacturing for Ford in Europe and International Markets Group.
“The start of mass production of electric vehicles, with the new all-electric Explorer, marks the beginning of a new era for Ford in Europe.”