Ford's New European SUV Will Use Geely Platform

Ford's New European SUV Will Use Geely Platform

Ford's upcoming multi-energy SUV for the European market will be built on Geely's Global Intelligent Electric Architecture (GEA), a flexible platform supporting both battery-electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains. This collaboration, formalised in July 2026, sees Ford holding a 66% stake in a joint venture with Geely, which holds the remaining 34% through Centurion Industries. The vehicle will be produced at Ford's Valencia, Spain, plant, leveraging Geely's engineering to reduce development costs amid intensifying competition from Chinese manufacturers. For Malaysian consumers, this signals Ford's strategy to offer more affordable electrified models, potentially influencing future regional lineups, though no official Malaysian distributor confirmation or local pricing has been announced.

Key Facts

What Is the Geely GEA Platform and Why Is Ford Using It?

The Geely GEA platform is a multi-energy vehicle architecture designed to support both electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains on a single engineering base, eliminating the need for separate platforms. Ford is adopting it to cut development costs and accelerate its European low-emission vehicle strategy. The platform's flexibility allows Ford to produce multiple powertrain variants without bespoke engineering, a critical advantage as EV development costs rise. Geely's GEA platform enables Ford to share engineering costs while maintaining its own design and driving character, a model that could influence how global brands approach electrification in cost-sensitive markets.

How Does the Ford-Geely Joint Venture Work?

Ford and Geely established a joint venture in July 2026 to produce low-emission vehicles for Europe, with Ford owning 66% and Geely 34% via Centurion Industries. The partnership includes shared production at Ford's Valencia plant, where Geely may also build its own models for the European market. This arrangement gives Ford access to Geely's existing technology while allowing Geely to utilise Ford's European manufacturing capacity. Under the joint venture terms, Ford retains majority control at 66%, while Geely's 34% stake is held through Centurion Industries, with production centred at Ford's Valencia facility.

Will the Ford SUV Retain Ford's Design Identity?

Yes, Ford has confirmed the SUV will maintain its own design and driving character despite using Geely's platform. The design will draw inspiration from Ford's rally heritage, while driving dynamics will reflect Ford's racing history. This means the platform and base technology come from Geely, but the exterior styling, interior design, and vehicle dynamics tuning will be developed by Ford. Ford has stated the new multi-energy SUV will feature design inspired by its rally involvement and driving character influenced by its racing history, ensuring brand distinction despite shared engineering.

Who Is This For in Malaysia?

This vehicle is primarily aimed at European buyers, but its relevance to Malaysians lies in Ford's global electrification strategy. Malaysian consumers interested in Ford's future EV or PHEV lineup may see similar platform-sharing approaches in regional models, potentially lowering costs. However, no official confirmation exists for Malaysian launch, pricing, or compatibility with local charging networks. For Malaysian users, this development signals potential future access to more affordable Ford electrified vehicles, though no local launch date, pricing in RM, or charging compatibility has been confirmed.

Common Questions

Does this Ford SUV support both EV and PHEV powertrains?

Yes, the Geely GEA platform supports both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid systems. Ford has not yet announced which specific powertrain options will be offered for this SUV, but the platform's multi-energy design allows for both configurations without requiring separate engineering bases.

Where will the Ford SUV be manufactured?

The SUV will be produced at Ford's Valencia plant in Spain. This facility is a key component of the Ford-Geely joint venture, and Geely may also use the same plant to manufacture its own models for the European market.

What is the purpose of the Ford-Geely joint venture?

The joint venture, announced in July 2026, aims to produce low-emission vehicles for Europe. Ford holds 66% ownership, while Geely holds 34% through Centurion Industries. The partnership allows Ford to leverage Geely's GEA platform technology while Geely gains access to Ford's European production facilities.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on a single primary source: the Careta article titled "SUV Ford Baharu Di Eropah Bakal Guna Platform Geely" by Qalif Latif, published on 24-08-2026, available at https://careta.my/article/suv-ford-baharu-di-eropah-bakal-guna-platform-geely. The source material was translated from Malay to English, with all factual claims, percentages, and dates preserved. The source references an external report from Autoblog dated 23 August 2026, which cited Automotive News. No currency conversions were required as the source contains no pricing information. This article was last updated on 24-08-2026. Information specific to Malaysia was not available in the source; therefore, no local verification was possible.