Ford may be the latest to backflip on European 2030 electric-only goals – report

Ford's European arm has become the latest in a growing line of car companies reconsidering its 2030 deadline of dropping petrol and diesel in favour of an all-electric range.

According to Automotive News Europe, Ford said it is rethinking whether to continue with its plan to move to a wholly electric vehicle line-up in the region, announced in early 2021.

The European Union plans to ban the sale of brand-new petrol and diesel cars by 2035 – with some provisions for low-volume brands and vehicles running on synthetic fuels.

Ford was one of several manufacturers which had announced they would transition to electric cars in Europe by 2030 in recent years – and is now one of a handful to walk back the statement.

MORE: Ford passenger cars and SUVs to go all-electric in Europe by 2030

"If we see strong demand, for instance for plug-in hybrid vehicles, we will offer them," said Martin Sander, head of Ford's passenger cars business in Europe, told ANE.

In February 2024, both Mercedes-Benz and Lamborghini announced they were pushing their plans to drop internal-combustion engines by 2030.

A month later, Bentley announced it was delaying its 2030 deadline for an all-electric range – claiming customer demand for hybrids could continue into the new decade.

In recent weeks, Ford's US headquarters announced its dedicated electric division had posted losses of $US1.3 billion ($AU2 billion) for the first quarter of 2024 – equating to a loss of $US130,000 ($AU200,000) for every electric car sold from January to the end of March.

MORE: Europe officially passes 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars

Sales of Ford electric vehicles also dropped by 20 per cent over the same period.

While electric-car sales in Australia continue to grow, global demand has weakened – prompting Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, and Jaguar Land Rover to reconsider their electrification plans.

However, sales of Ford's hybrid models increased globally by 36 per cent in the first quarter, with sales projected to hit 40 per cent by the year's end.

This week, UK magazine Autocar confirmed the Ford Focus would end production in November 2025 – being the last model in the brand's European range that isn't either an SUV or a commercial vehicle.