5 hybrid and electric Fords by late 2024, Mustang Mach-E expected … eventually

October 5, 2021October 15, 2021 Toby Hagon 4709 Views ford

Ford has finally confirmed its first battery electric vehicle to come to Australia – but it’s not the one most were anticipating.

Instead of the Mustang Mach-E that is selling up a sales storm globally, Ford Australia has committed to the E-Transit delivery van for mid-2022.

The E-Transit will be the first of at least five electrified Fords – both hybrid and battery electric vehicle – Ford says it will be selling here by the end of 2024.

Another is the delayed Escape PHEV.

However, the company is staying quiet on anything beyond that, other than to admit there will be “at least five”, possibly more.

“Basically, it’s sold out … the vehicle will not be available in Australia,” said Ford Australia president and CEO Andrew Birkic of the Mustang Mach-E, before quickly clarifying that “the vehicle is currently not available in Australia”.

The challenge for the Mach-E is supply. Ford has been caught out by the demand for the Mach-E globally.

In markets such as Europe – where stiff penalties apply for selling cars that don’t meet strict emissions regulations – EVs such as the Mach-E can be a financial lifeline by providing crucial credits.

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But it’s expected that the Mach-E will be one of the five Fords – possibly more – to be powered by electricity within three years.

Some of the key engineering hurdles have already been overcome. It’s currently sold in the UK, for example, so is already manufactured with the steering wheel on the right.

The Mustang Mach E competes with cars such as the Tesla Model Y, Polestar 2, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.

Another electric Ford that would seem to make plenty of sense for Australia is the F-150 Lightning, an EV version of the large US-made pickup truck.

Ford recently doubled production to keep up with American demand, but even then it doesn’t appear to be enough for Australia, at least initially.

And, of course, there’s an electric Ford Ranger being developed globally too.

Ford says pickups - such as the Ranger ute - and "rugged SUVs" will soon be electric. — Ford says pickups – such as the Ranger ute – and “rugged SUVs” will soon be electric.

Considering the Ranger is one of the top selling cars in the country – and often accounts for about 70 percent of Ford’s local sales – it would surely be on the hit list.

But, again, it was all quiet for Ford Australia.

“We’ve no announcement to make today on any electrification when it comes to Ranger,” says Birkic, saying the immediate focus for Ranger is keeping up with demand for the current model in twilight of its life cycle and preparing for an all-new Ranger in 2022.

The only clue Birkic would give is that Australia would benefit from Ford’s EV developments globally.

“There’s US$30 billion [of EV development] happening globally by 2025 and we will certainly be a beneficiary of that investment.”