Ford and Renault Shake Up Europe: The Alliance Bringing Back the Electric Fiesta and a New Urban Crossover

Two automotive giants join forces to relaunch the small EV segment and redefine the future of the European market.

The alliance that reshapes the electric landscape

In a strategic move of major significance, Ford and Renault have announced a landmark partnership to develop two new small electric vehicles, an agreement that reshapes Europe’s industrial landscape and brings the American brand back to a segment it abandoned in 2023. The collaboration will be built on Renault’s AmpR Small platform, the same architecture underpinning the Renault 5, Renault 4 and the upcoming Twingo. This framework will enable the return of the fully electric Ford Fiesta, an icon discontinued after nearly half a century of production.

An electric Fiesta for 2028 and a crossover positioned as the next Puma Gen-E

The first model born from this alliance will arrive in early 2028, described as an “affordable” small EV that will inherit the Fiesta’s spirit and share production lines with the Renault 5 at the ElectriCity plant in Douai, France. Alongside it, a second compact electric crossover will be developed based on the Renault 4, positioned as a potential successor to the Puma Gen-E, although technical details remain undisclosed. Ford emphasises that both models will be “distinctive Ford electric vehicles”, distancing themselves from simple rebadging exercises such as the Nissan Micra’s relationship with the Renault 5.

Ford personality, Renault technology and a much-needed comeback

Although these vehicles will share hardware with Renault –including a front-mounted motor producing between 121 hp and 215 hp, battery options of 40 kWh or 52 kWh, and an upcoming switch to more affordable LFP chemistry– the brand insists they will offer unique driving dynamics, bespoke design and true Ford DNA. This strategy is critical for the company, which is seeking to regain market share in Europe: from a historic 12% it has dropped to just 4%, worsened by the underperformance of the Capri and Explorer EVs that led to 1,000 job cuts in Cologne and forced Ford to abandon its plan for a fully electric European range by 2030.

Ford’s biggest strategic shift in Europe since the Focus era

With the discontinuation of the Focus and a line-up dominated by SUVs and Transit-derived models, Ford needed a decisive shift. The alliance with Renault becomes the brand’s second major collaboration in Europe, after adopting Volkswagen’s MEB platform for the Capri and Explorer. Although the new electric Fiesta was initially considered for the Volkswagen MEB Entry platform, Ford ultimately chose Renault’s AmpR Small architecture, a more cost-effective and competitive option for a segment that demands sharp pricing and large-scale industrial efficiency.

An alliance aligned with Europe’s evolving regulatory framework

The agreement arrives as the European Union considers pushing back the ban on new combustion-engine vehicle sales from 2035 to 2040, a delay that Ford CEO Jim Farley has argued is essential to safeguard the sector’s viability. Both Farley and François Provost, Renault Group’s head of partnerships, hailed the deal as a milestone combining Renault’s industrial scale and EV expertise with Ford’s dynamic identity, setting the stage for a new generation of competitive, appealing European EVs.