3 minute read - 5th December 2024
Electric drive production begins at Ford Halewood plant
Ford’s Halewood plant has started production of its new electric drive units. Ford says these electric power units are critical to its electrification strategy and will power the electric versions of the UK’s best-selling vehicles, the Transit Custom and the Puma.
It follows a £380m investment, including £30.9m of governmental support via the Automotive Transformation Fund, to transform Halewood from a traditional transmissions facility into a state-of-the-art electric vehicle component manufacturing plant.
The Halewood facility now has the capacity to produce 420,000 electric drive units annually that will power Ford’s ambitious electrification goals. Halewood’s production capacity will ensure that 70% of Ford electric vehicles sold in Europe, including models such as the E-Transit Custom, the E-Tourneo Custom and the Puma Gen-E, will be powered by UK-manufactured technology.
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Ford’s Halewood plant has started production of its new electric drive units, following a £380m investment / Picture: Ford of Britain
Kieran Cahill, Ford’s European industrial operations vice president, said: “Ford is a global American brand with deep roots in Europe, and Halewood has been a cornerstone of that legacy for 60 years. It’s not just the state-of-the-art technology or the £380 million transformation that makes Halewood special—it’s the incredible team here. Their skill, dedication, and pride are what power our electrification journey. With Halewood leading the way as our first in-house EV component manufacturing site in Europe, we’re building a thriving future together, with nine electric vehicles on the road in Europe by 2025.”
This transformation positions Halewood as Ford’s first in-house electric vehicle component manufacturing plant in Europe, with units set to be distributed across Europe and assembled at Ford Otosan plants in Romania and Turkey. In turn, Halewood and Dagenham will continue to support Ford UK’s annual export value as it manages the electric transition across its car and van line-up.
The electric version of the UK’s best-selling car, the Puma, will be powered by the electric drive unit built at Halewood and assembled at Ford’s plant in Craiova, Romania.
Ford says these electric power units are critical to its electrification strategy and will power the electric versions of the UK’s best-selling vehicles, the Transit Custom and the Puma / Picture: Ford of Britain
This investment secures hundreds of jobs at Halewood, with employees upskilled to support Ford’s electric future. Apprentices and engineers have been trained in advanced electric vehicle technologies through a £24m investment in Dunton, Essex. Here, they participated in prototype development and received training on electric drive unit assembly, bringing new expertise to Halewood.
Lee Meyers, plant manager at Ford Halewood, said: “The start of electric drive unit production at Halewood is a proud moment for us. We’re not only embracing an exciting technological transformation but also contributing to the UK’s electric future while investing in our team and community. This plant, our people, and the region have a bright future as part of Ford’s electrification journey.”
The transformation positions Halewood as Ford’s first in-house electric vehicle component manufacturing plant in Europe / Picture: Ford of Britain
