According to Ziarul Financiar, Ford and Renault announced a strategic partnership for the development of two Ford electric vehicles on the Ampere platform, along with cooperation in the commercial vehicle segment. The agreement brings to life the vision outlined by former Renault CEO Luca de Meo in his 2024 “Letter to Europe,” which emphasized the need for European manufacturers to join forces against growing Chinese competition.
Faster development and Craiova’s central role
For Ford, the partnership provides access to Renault’s Leap 100 program, which cuts the development cycle of a new model from four to five years down to just 100 weeks. The future models will be built by Ampere, but Ford will lead design and development to preserve the brand’s identity.
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“Future models will be produced at Ampere by Renault, but the Ford team will lead design and development so that they retain the Ford DNA. We rely on partnerships based on strengths and investment efficiency,” said Jim Baumbick, president of Ford Europe, in a restricted teleconference.
The Craiova plant remains central to Ford’s European strategy. Jim Baumbick reaffirmed the long-term commitment to the Puma model made in Romania.
“We have a very active development plan for Puma, and I see these two new vehicles as complementary, not replacements. Puma is a key model in our portfolio, has been very successful on the market, and we will continue to invest. It will remain a core pillar of our strategy.”
Analysts note that the agreement highlights the growing need for “pragmatic cooperation” among traditional automakers to respond to Chinese manufacturers, who benefit from production costs roughly 25% lower and development cycles of only 1.5–2 years.
Photo: Romania Insider
