Ford Halewood Electric Drive Unit Production
Halewood, Merseyside, UK · 2021-Present (production started 2024) · £380m investment (including £30.9m government support)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchFord's £380 million investment, supported by the UK government's Automotive Transformation Fund, demonstrates a strategic commitment to localizing EV component production in the UK. - The plant's transition from transmissions to electric drive units is a critical step in Ford's global electrification strategy, securing its future in the evolving automotive landscape. - The project highlights the successful adaptation of existing manufacturing infrastructure and workforce to new technological demands, showcasing a model for industrial transformation.
Key engineering challenges
Transforming a traditional transmission plant into an electric drive unit manufacturing facility. - Implementing new high-precision manufacturing processes for EV components. - Retraining the workforce for electric vehicle component production. - Integrating advanced automation and robotics for efficient production.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Ford Motor Company
- Lead contractor
- —
- Lead designers
- —
- Project type
- upgrade
- Scale
- Production of 250,000 electric power units annually by 2024; components for Ford E-Transit Custom, E-Puma.
- Disciplines
- mechanical; electrical; process; systems; industrial engineering
- Standards & frameworks
- —
Sources: Ford News (Dec 2022, https://magneticsmag.com/ford-uk-plant-to-transition-from-transmissions-to-e-power-units/) - Automotive Manufacturing Solutions (Dec 2024, https://www.automotivemanufacturingsolutions.com/electrification/fords-halewood-facility-begins-production-of-electric-drive-units-strengthening-the-uks-role-in-ev-manufacturing/538321) - From the Road, Ford (https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/eur/en/articles/2024/ford-halewood-powers-up--electric-drive-unit-production-begins) - APCUK (https://www.apcuk.co.uk/impact/case-studies/ford-uk-halewood-transmission-factory-transformation/)