By Connor Hart

Ford Motor outlined a broad product-and-technology strategy for Europe that aims to renew its commitment to the region.

Separately, the automaker on Monday signed a large-scale battery energy storage agreement in North America.

Both moves reflect Ford's push to expand beyond traditional vehicle manufacturing into software, services and energy infrastructure.

Ford said it plans to introduce a new heavy-duty pickup truck in Europe, as well as an all-electric van designed for fleets operating in dense urban areas. The company is aiming to launch five new passenger vehicles across the region by the end of 2029, including a new Bronco-family model, a small electric sport-utility vehicle and two crossover vehicles.

Under its new European strategy, Ford will also reposition its Ford Pro arm from a vehicle manufacturer into a productivity partner, leveraging software and services to maximize returns, it said. The shift supports the company's target to generate a quarter of the unit's global earnings before interest and taxes from software and services annually, it said.

Ford Pro will additionally expand its uptime services capabilities to small businesses. The offering uses connected-vehicle data and predictive intelligence to identify issues before they become problems, it said.

Ford's European strategy will rely on strategic partnerships to accelerate development and improve scale, the company added.

Ford reiterated its commitment to a zero-emission future but called for a regulatory framework that better aligns emissions targets with consumer demand. Ford said overly aggressive emissions targets risk encouraging consumers to retain older, higher-emission vehicles longer, potentially undermining investment in zero-emission technologies.

Separately, Ford said its energy business signed a five-year framework agreement with EDF power solutions North America.

Under the deal, EDF will have the ability to procure up to 4 gigawatt hours annually of Ford Energy's DC Block battery energy storage systems. The agreement positions Ford Energy as a key battery energy storage systems supplier for EDF, with deliveries expected to begin in 2028, Ford said.

Ford shares were up 4.6% to $14.01 in premarket trading.

Write to Connor Hart at connor.hart@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 18, 2026 07:49 ET (11:49 GMT)

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