But first, Ford is developing its own global EV architecture for use on future products and evaluating building vehicles on this platform in Valencia.

“Our first priority is to get our own platform and our own technology to Europe, because I really believe we are building a very, very competitive platform,” Sander told ANE. 

The company is also readying an electric version of the Ford Puma atop adapted ICE architecture, which will also underpin an electric version of the new Ford Tourneo Courier and Ford Transit Courier. 

VW boss Thomas Schäfer was non-committal when asked if his company could consider partnering with other manufacturers to develop its smaller MEB Entry architecture. “It could be an option,” he said at the unveiling of the ID 2. “But for now, we think that with the scale that we have, we can do it ourselves. We’re looking at a couple of options at the moment.” 

He did, however, say the firm would be open to offering the platform out to third parties once it is ready. 

A direct replacement for the Ford Fiesta is not an immediate priority for Ford in any case. As Sander put it: “We have to be wise in our choices and decide where to spend our money, where to make the necessary investment in order to get to a positive business case.”