Building on its commitment to grow an all-electric vehicle range, Ford has invested a further £125 million in its Halewood plant in Knowsley.
This recent announcement takes the total investment in enabling Halewood’s transformation to an EV component plant to almost £380 million.
The Halewood plant is integral to Ford’s European electrification plan, which is centred on zero-emission car sales by 2030, followed by all vehicles including vans by 2035.
By 2026, 70 per cent of the 600,000 EVs, which Ford will sell in Europe a year, will be powered by the Halewood-produced technology.
The latest investment will help safeguard the 500 high-value Ford jobs at Halewood and upskill them for Ford’s EV future.
Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council, along with Mike Harden, Chief Executive of Knowsley Council, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram and Knowsley MP’s Sir George Howarth, Marie Rimmer and Maria Eagle, were invited to the Halewood plant on the day of the announcement (Thursday 1 December) to meet with Kieran Cahill, European Industrial Operation VP, Lee Meyers, Plant Manager and the wider Ford teams from Halewood, Ford of Britain and Ford of Europe.
Cllr Morgan commented:
“This recent announcement is really positive news for Halewood, Knowsley and the wider Liverpool City Region. Halewood has been home to Ford for almost 60 years and is a major employer and contributor to our local economy.
“This investment in Halewood and the plans for the site to be an integral part of the company’s all-electric future, is a real boost for everyone.”
Kieran Cahill, Ford’s European Industrial Operations vice-president, said:
“Ford is a global American brand, woven into the fabric of Europe for more than 100 years and a major employer here at Halewood for almost 60 years.
“Our vision in Europe is to build a thriving business, by extending leadership in commercial vehicles and through the electrification of our car range. Halewood is playing a critical part as our first in-house investment in EV component manufacturing in Europe.”