Ford has faced its fair share of struggles in Europe as of late, an automotive market ripe with competition from quickly-growing Chinese automakers, as well as various macroeconomic concerns and a desire to phase out the sale of new ICE vehicles in the coming years. Ford Europe’s sales dropped 17 percent in 2024 versus 2023, in fact, prompting the company to revamp its leadership team in that region and focus more on the successful and profitable commercial vehicle segment. Regardless, even today, Ford is shelling out big bucks to keep its European division afloat.
In its Q2 2025 financial report, Ford revealed that it spent $100 million on its European restructuring efforts in the first half of the year, in fact. That’s actually quite a lot less than the $500 million it sunk into the same purpose over H1 2024, but notable, nonetheless. It’s unclear what that money was used for, as it’s only listed as a “special item,” or expenses that include restructuring efforts, recall costs, plant changes, and the cancelation of certain programs.
It is possible that at least some of this expense is going to the the Cologne Electric Vehicle Center in Germany, where the Ford Explorer and Capri EVs are built. Ford cut production of both of those models after each launched to weak demand, prompting concerns from workers and the IG Metall union that represents them. Ford later reached an agreement with IG Metall that will result in protection for all employees at the Cologne plant through 2032 via voluntary redundancies, which consist of “generous” severance payments for certain workers.
As Ford Authority recently reported, The Blue Oval also took a $400 million dollar hit in H1 2025 after canceling plans to build two new all-electric three-row crossovers at the Oakville Assembly plant in Canada. When the Ford EV SUV program was originally canceled, the automaker noted that it would be taking a special non-cash charge of about $400 million for the write-down of certain product-specific manufacturing assets for those models, and the decision may also result in additional expenses and cash expenditures of up to $1.5 billion before it’s all said and done.
This updated proposal suggests ways to cut down on battery drain.
It isn't original or perfect, but it would make for a nice classic cruiser.
It's unclear what that plan involves, for now.
It also makes a lot more power and is quicker around the track.
It's unclear what, exactly, Ford is planning to unveil.
