Ford is so confident in its electric vehicle transformation that it’s even changed the street names at its North West factory.
The car giant yesterday announced another £125m of investment into its Halewood plant so it can focus on building drives for electric vehicles.
That will secure the jobs of the 500 workers at the plant – and union Unite is hopeful more new jobs could follow.
What was clear from managers and workers at the factory when I visited yesterday was that everyone was confident the site had a long and bright future ahead.
Ford, like all other major carmakers, is pivoting towards electric vehicles. By 2026, Ford hopes to be selling 600,000 electric vehicles a year in Europe. It says that by 2030 all of its new cars sold will be all-electric, with the majority of its vans sold being either electric or hybrid by the same date.
They’re ambitious goals that will need some serious production capacity in Europe . And thankfully for the North West, Halewood will be a key cog in the machine.
Ultimately 70% of all Ford electric vehicles sold in Europe will be powered by drives built on Merseyside. Production of drives is set to begin in 2024 and the site will have the capacity to produce 400,000 units a year – equivalent to more than one per minute.
Staff old and new gathered at Halewood yesterday to watch the announcement, which also included some £24m investment in an Essex plant.
They included apprentice Finlay Purcell, 19, from Old Swan, who said the investment “just further confirms that it (the Halewood plant) is going to be a staple forever now”.
Plant manager Lee Meyers said the huge investment and the ongoing transformation work had thrilled him and his colleagues.
And he said those workers were particularly pleased the news would safeguard the plant for younger workers like Finlay and his successors.
He said: “They are keen to make sure that even after they’ve retired, they’re making decisions that are going to benefit people for the next generation – so really great foresight in that regard.”
A sign for Electric Avenue at Ford Halewood. Ford has renamed the road outside its Halewood plant to mark its investment in electric vehicles
Unite regional officer Joey Swift hailed the site’s staff, saying: “This is an extremely positive announcement that ensures the future of the site for the current workforce and for future generations.”
The UK needs to become a world leader in electric vehicle technology. That will need commitments from big employers like Ford – so today’s news is a huge vote of confidence for the North West and for the UK.
Ford is in it for the long term, That’s why the private outside the main entrance to its Halewood site has been renamed – it’s now Electric Avenue.
Keyword: Why Ford's £125m electric vehicle investment is great news for the North West - and for UK manufacturing