Ford has detailed an ambitious China electrification strategy, confirming two new electrified vehicles for China and a broad range of EVs by 2025.

The Mondeo Energi, to be launched in early 2018, will be the first plug-in hybrid to be manufactured by the Changan Ford JV. Expanding its EV portfolio in China, Changan Ford will start manufacturing the Mondeo Energi plug-in hybrid in Chongqing in early 2018.

The Mondeo Energi will feature an electric drive range of up to 50km, fast torque on demand, smooth acceleration and a quiet operation. It will allow drivers to use battery power around town and fuel for longer trips, reducing the inconvenience and costs of frequent stops at the fuel station during their daily commute. If the battery of the Mondeo Energi is running low, it can easily be charged at home or the office.

Ford also confirmed plans to bring an all-new fully electric small SUV to China within five years. The SUV will be engineered to deliver an estimated range of more than 450 kilometres and will be sold in North America and Europe, as well as China.

China is the world’s largest new energy vehicle market thanks to strong government support and growing customer acceptance. According to the Society of Automotive Engineers of China, by 2025 new energy vehicles are expected to account for over 15 percent of total passenger vehicle sales in China.

“The time is right for Ford to expand our EV lineup and investments in China,” said Mark Fields, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company, who will further detail Ford’s electrification strategy at a special event in Shanghai on April 8. “We are prioritising our electrification efforts on China to reflect its importance as a global electrified vehicle market and to make lives better, simpler and more cost effective for Chinese consumers.”

To address the diverse needs of consumers in China, including the growing demand for EVs, Ford says it will offer a comprehensive range of electrified solutions by 2025 – hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fully battery-powered electric vehicles. By then, 70 percent of all Ford vehicles will have electrified powertrain options, including the full range of nameplates produced by Changan Ford. In addition, by 2020 Ford will start manufacturing electrified powertrains in China. It also plans to expand its new energy vehicle engineering capabilities at its Nanjing Research and Engineering Centre, with a focus on incorporating Chinese customer needs into

Betting big on electrification
Ford is bullish on electrification and globally it is investing $4.5 billion to electrify its most-popular, highest-volume vehicles for customers, offering more capability, productivity and performance together with better fuel economy. In January, Ford confirmed seven of the 13 new global EVs it will launch in the next five years, including the all-new fully electric small SUV that will be sold in China, and a hybrid autonomous vehicle designed for commercial operations in mobility services, starting in North America.

Ford will be showcasing the Mondeo Hybrid, C-MAX Energi and Mondeo Energi at a special event in Shanghai on April 8 and at Auto China 2017 from April 19-28.