The European market launch of Ford's all-electric Explorer was delayed by about six months. The compact SUV with a two-row seating arrangement was originally scheduled to debut in early 2024.
The Ford Explorer is built on Volkswagen's MEB platform and its first production was supposed to start after the summer break at the Electric Vehicle Center, which opened in June 2023. However, the release date has been delayed due to new global security regulations. Ford is expected to offer the electric Explorer model in Europe as a vehicle for customers to buy next summer.
The European Union will make some additional assistance systems mandatory for all new cars from 2024. While this obligation has already been applied from 6 July 2022 for new type approved vehicles, it will become mandatory for vehicles with old type approval as of 2024.
Due to the delay, it is stated that the Ford Explorer model will be available to customers "next summer". Ford started taking pre-orders after the model was introduced in March 2023.
Ford has yet to reveal powertrain details, so it's unclear which components come from Volkswagen and how the electric Explorer differs from other MEB-based models. Ford, orders opened zamThe moment – most likely by early 2024 – is targeting the base hardware price for the Explorer below 45,000 euros ($49,600).
