COLOGNE, Germany — Ford will cut back its dependence on Volkswagen Group’s EV expertise because the U.S. automaker shifts its European lineup to electric-only.

After launching two new all-electric EVs primarily based on VW Group’s MEB electric-only structure, Ford will use its personal expertise for future electrical automobiles.

VW’s MEB platform was a transitional expertise for Ford and utilizing it saved the corporate not less than two years of growth time, Martin Sanders, Ford’s e-car growth supervisor in Europe, advised Automotive Information Europe sister publication Automobilwoche.

Ford is spending $2 billion to transform its manufacturing unit in Cologne, Germany, to construct two MEB-based automobiles, whereas ending manufacturing of the long-running Fiesta hatchback there.

By 2026, Ford plans to promote 600,000 electrical autos a yr in Europe.

The primary MEB-based Ford EV will likely be unveiled in March and will likely be related in dimension to the VW ID4 crossover. Ford describes the second EV as a “sport crossover.” It’s going to go into manufacturing subsequent yr in Cologne.

Ford additionally plans to transform its plant in Valencia, Spain, to construct software-defined EVs on a brand new electrical structure, starting later this decade. The plant presently builds the Kuga compact SUV, and the the Galaxy and S-Max giant minivans.

The brand new electrical automobiles EVs inbuilt Valencia won’t use VW’s MEB structure.

“We’ll use a pure electrical platform in Valencia. In the meanwhile, nonetheless, it’s nonetheless open as to when this may occur and which fashions we are going to construct there,” Sander mentioned.

The Valencia-built EVs may even use the automaker’s personal software program with superior driver-assistance options. Ford and VW closed their Argo AI autonomous automobile expertise firm final yr.

Ford has mentioned its passenger lineup in Europe will develop into all-electric by 2030 and it expects two-thirds of business van gross sales to be all-electric or plug-in hybrids by the identical date.