Ford Model E electric range will firstly see a Focus-based electric hatchback and a compact SUV by 2019 as development speeds up
Ford has been rumoured to be making an electric global vehicle assault for a long time and an important detail has come out. The portfolio will be named as Model E and will be launching in international markets in 2019. The product lineup will include a Focus hatchback based model competing against the much talked upcoming Tesla Model 3 and a compact electric SUV.
Different drivetrain options will be on sale, much like Hyundai’s Ioniq, as the models are said to be built on a flexible platform to accommodate EV, plug-in hybrid and hybrid variants. Tesla’s moves to trademark the Model E in 2013 failed courtesy of Ford as the American EV manufacturer had to choose Model 3 for its global and affordable electric car in its lineage.
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As for now, the Blue Oval is offering an electric variant of the successful Focus hatchback and it will be ditched in favour of a new version sometime this year. Ford officially confirmed in 2015 that it will be switching its focus on electric variants and announced adding up to 13 new electric vehicles to its contingent by the end of this decade.
Despite having big plans in terms of electric mobility, the brand has been carefully shaping its electric operations and it is hoped to continue on the Model E lineup as well. The Model E bound models will be realistically priced according to some rumours and will be a well-engineered Ford range as we traditionally experienced.
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The Model E range will be targetting electric vehicle market share in countries where it is most welcomed – pointing at volume dialing markets like China. The news comes as a stellar following a ride-sharing autonomous fleet from Ford set to be up and running by 2021. It has seen investment being doubled and development sped up with size of Silicon Valley employees increased as well. The autonomous vehicle will comply with Sae level 4 rating and will be mass produced for commercial purposes.