Ford: US$189m Investment Powers Halewood's EV Transformation
Ford's US$189m investment in its Halewood Plant in Merseyside, UK, marks a significant milestone in its commitment to electrification. The bold move expanded the plant's capacity by 70%, positioning Halewood as a hub for EV component production.
In December 2024, the transformation came to life as the plant began manufacturing electric drive units for the all-electric Puma Gen-E and E-Transit Custom, two of the UK's top-selling vehicles. The progress reflects Ford's electrification strategy and signals a pivotal shift in the automotive sector.
A vision for Ford's electrification journey
"The start of electric drive unit production at Halewood is a proud moment for us," says Lee Meyers, Halewood Plant Manager.
"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.
"The plant, our people and the region have a bright future as part of Ford's electrification journey."
The investment highlights Ford's ambition to lead the charge in EV manufacturing.
Tim Slatter, Chairman of Ford UK, highlighted the importance of this milestone: "This is an all-important next step for Ford towards having nine EVs on sale within two years. Our UK workforce is playing a major role in Ford's all-electric future, demonstrated by Halewood's pivot to a new zero-emission powertrain and E: PriME's innovation at Dunton in finalising the production processes."
The latest investment brings Ford's total commitment to Halewood's transformation to nearly US$477.7m. Funding support from the UK government's Automotive Transformation Fund has further solidified Halewood's position as a cornerstone of Ford's electrification efforts.
Halewood: The heart of Ford's European EV strategy
The Halewood Plant's transition represents a significant operational shift. Traditionally focused on producing transmissions for internal combustion engine vehicles, the plant is now dedicated to assembling EV power units.
The initial US$289m investment in 2023 aimed to produce 250,000 power units annually by 2024. Subsequent expansion boosted the capacity to 420,000 units per year — a 70% increase — cementing Halewood's critical role in Ford's European EV strategy.
Ford aims to sell 600,000 EVs annually in Europe by 2026, with 70% of the vehicles powered by Halewood technology. Globally, it targets an annual EV production of two million vehicles by the same year.
Kieran Cahill, European Industrial Operations Vice President at Ford notes: "Ford is a global American brand, woven into the fabric of Europe for more than 100 years and a major employer here at Halewood for almost 60 years.
"Halewood is playing a critical part as our first in-house investment in EV component manufacturing in Europe."
Upskilling and preparing for an electric future
A key element of Halewood's transformation has been the upskilling of its workforce. The investment protects 500 jobs. Engineers and apprentices participated in hands-on training at Ford's E:PriME centre in Essex.
The knowledge gained at E:PriME followed Halewood to support its new EV power unit production role.
Beyond workforce development, Ford has focused on achieving carbon neutrality across its European operations by 2035.
Halewood's sustainability measures include solar panel installations generating 1,782 MWh of energy, replacing diesel-powered locomotives with electric ones and adding EV charging points for employees.
A blueprint for electrification
Ford's success at Halewood highlights the importance of investing in technology, workforce training and sustainability. As the automotive industry pivots toward electrification, large-scale transformation of factories and workflows will be essential. Halewood is a model for how traditional manufacturing facilities can evolve into hubs for innovation in EV production.
By leveraging its expertise and focusing on sustainability, Ford has positioned itself as a leader in the race toward electrification, demonstrating how thoughtful investment can drive both progress and profitability.
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