Report: Ford & Renault Teaming Up For Two Small EVs

Ford and Renault have reportedly agreed to collaborate towards developing two new small EVs for the European market.

Here’s a reminder that the mighty American blue oval marque isn’t just renowned for mighty pick-up trucks – it once made arguably desirable hatchbacks like the Fiesta and Focus that proved popular across the European market.

Whilst the Fiesta supermini (B-segment hatch) went out of production in 2023 after seven generations, the larger Focus C-segment hatch finally went out of production last month after four generations. This puts Ford in the backfoot in Europe as neither nameplates had successors planned.

Despite their popularity, Ford did not plan successors for the fourth-gen Focus hatch (top, right) and estate (top, left), as well as the seventh-gen Fiesta supermini (above).

That’s about to change soon following reports online that the American marque is set to collaborate with French automaker Renault. Specifically, the latter is set to supply its Ampr EV platform base to the former to spawn two new small electric vehicles (EVs).

As a refresher, the Renault Ampr EV base is the same architecture that birthed the French marque’s latest Renault 4 and Renault 5 EV offerings. Soon, both are set to see ‘cousins’ in the form of a small EV hatch and possibly a compact EV crossover bearing the Ford badge.

Renault will supply Ford with its Ampr EV platform base (top). Presently, both the Renault 5 (above, left) and Renault 4 (above, right) underpin said base.

While Renault supplies the base platform tech, sources online further report that Ford will give unique styling to set themselves apart from the French marque’s offering. In other words, Ford will do more than just rebadge these like the Nissan Micra.

Whilst the Fiesta-replacing small EV hatch based on the Renault 5 is reportedly set to debut sometime in early 2028, the Renault 4-based Puma successor’s arrival timeline remains unclear still. Renault will produce both for Ford at its plant in Douai, France.

Unlike the Nissan Micra EV, which is essentially a rebadged Renault 5, Ford promises to endow its redux to feature unique styling.

For reference, the Renault 5 sees both 40 kWh and 52 kWh battery size options available, followed by e-motors outputting either 121 hp or up to 215 hp. Ford’s redux of the Renault 5 is also speculated to command a sub- €25,000 price tag.

Beyond these two small EVs outlined in this initial collaboration agreement, Ford has also reportedly agreed to explore another possible collaboration with Renault for new light commercial vehicles – another key segment for the blue oval marque in Europe.