Bright sparks Ford and Jaguar go full throttle for electric potential
THE move to electric power took a significant step forward last week as Ford made a commitment that by mid-2026, 100pc of its passenger vehicle range in Europe will be zero-emissions capable, all-electric or plug-in hybrid, and completely all-electric by 2030.
Similarly, Ford’s entire commercial vehicle range will be zero-emissions capable, all-electric or plug-in hybrid, by 2024, with two-thirds of Ford’s commercial vehicle sales expected to be all-electric or plug-in hybrid by 2030.
Spearheading Ford’s advance into an all-electric future is a US$1bn (€828.3m) investment to modernise its vehicle assembly facility in Cologne, Germany, the home of Ford of Europe. Ford’s first European-built, volume all-electric passenger vehicle for European customers will be produced at the facility from 2023, with the potential for a second all-electric vehicle built there under consideration.
The news came as my colleague Eddie Cunningham revealed in the Irish Independent that “Jaguar, the heritage symbol of posh petrol and diesel-powered cars for generations, is to steer towards becoming an all-electric brand from 2025 as part of the ‘reimagination’ of the famous company”. Its sister brand, Land Rover, will have six pure electric models on the road over the next five years.
According to a report conducted by Carzone, the motoring marketplace, the impact of Covid-19 has created an increased desire for car ownership among Irish people, with more than half (55pc) of respondents stating that owning or having access to a car is now more important as a result of the pandemic.
The Carzone Motoring Report is compiled by analysing data from the 81+ million car views carried out on the site in 2020, and a survey of more than 2,000 people in Ireland. The research outlines the impact of Covid-19 on the car-buying journey over the past year, with 64pc of prospective car buyers still looking to buy a car and a third (36pc) putting their car-buying plans on hold. Sixty per cent say their car-buying budget has stayed the same or increased since the beginning of the pandemic.
Covid-19 has also encouraged 65pc of non-drivers to learn to drive (83pc among the 18- to 24-year-old group), while 48pc of people are less likely to use public transport compared with pre-Covid-19 levels.
I heard the other day from a regular reader who had followed the articles on the MercedesBenz S Class and E Class has now plumped for the E Class in a stunning colour. He bought the very well specced Exclusive version, which has the badge on the bonnet like the S Class. He writes, “I’ve also left the badge on the back off, so 99pc of people won’t know whether it’s an E or S — and it’s 50pc of the price. With the new car and vaccine on the way, I’ll be all set!”
Good on you.