As it aims to convert its passenger vehicle lineup to EVs in Europe by 2030, Ford will launch seven new models in that region by 2024 – including a handful of new electrified Transit vans. To get to that point, The Blue Oval has struck a number of deals with many different suppliers, meaning that future Ford EVs in Europe will boast batteries from different sources. As Ford Authority reported last March, FoMoCo recently signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SK On Co., Ltd. and and Koc Holding to build a new commercial EV battery plant in Turkey as part of these efforts, though SK later scrapped those plans and was replaced by LG Energy Solution (LGES). Now, Ford has officially signed an MOU with Koc and LG to form a joint venture and create a new commercial EV battery plant near Ankara, Turkey.
The new plant will be located in a commercial industrial zone in Başkent, with all involved parties expecting to break ground later this year with an eye toward starting production in 2026. The new site will be one of Europe’s largest commercial electric vehicle battery cell facilities with at least 25 GWh of annual production capacity when it opens in the coming years, which could potentially expand up to 45 GWh later down the road.
Ford has been working with Koc Holding and LG Energy Solution for years now. LGES supplies batteries from its plant in Poland for the Ford Mustang Mach-E and E-Transit, while FoMoCo and Koc have been working together for nearly a century, establishing the Ford Otosan joint venture more than 60 years ago. Ford Otosan currently builds the E-Transit in Turkey, and will soon produce the all-new E-Transit Custom and E-Tourneo Custom, too.
“As Europe’s leading commercial vehicle brand for the past eight years, we want to continue providing our customers with the most efficient and innovative vehicles supporting their business goals through our Ford Pro vehicle services and distribution business,” said Lisa Drake, vice president, Ford EV Industrialization. “This new battery joint venture is a prime example of how we are leveraging our strategic business relationships to strengthen our business.”
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