Through a $2-billion investment, Ford recently converted its existing plant in Niehl, Cologne, Germany, founded in 1930, into its new Cologne Electric Vehicle Center, a production facility for EVs.

The 125-hectare plant has a new automated production line and facilities for battery assembly and tooling. It is expected to reach an annual production capacity of at least 250,000 vehicles. Plans call for initial production of the company’s Explorer model, followed by a sports crossover vehicle.

According to Ford, the new facility is its first carbon-neutral assembly plant. “The Cologne EV Center signals the start of a new era for Ford in Europe,” said Martin Sander, General Manager of Ford Model e Europe. “We are once again redefining auto manufacturing, implementing advanced technologies to build fully connected, software-defined vehicles that meet our customers’ demand for electric mobility.”

Source: Ford