Ford’s first all-electric Explorer rolls off assembly as new sport EV crossover debut looms
As Ford’s first all-electric Explorer rolls off the production line at its new Cologne EV facility, the company is already looking toward its second EV. Ford will reveal its new sports EV crossover soon ahead of production later this year.
Ford unveiled its electric Explorer last March, converting the iconic SUV into an EV built for the modern era.
The Explorer EV is a five-seat family SUV aimed at the European market. Ford combined classic American design with superior German engineering to create the fully electric mid-size SUV.
Ford’s all-electric Explorer is based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform, the same one used for the ID.4. It’s the first of a 2020 partnership to revamp the Ford brand in the region. With 470 liters of storage and a massive 15″ movable touchscreen (with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support), Ford’s new electric SUV is built for family trips.
The Explorer EV can also fast charge from 10% to 80% in about 25 minutes, allowing you to get back on the road quickly.
Although production was expected to begin before the end of 2023, Ford delayed it last summer to meet new global safety rules.
Ford’s first all-electric Explorer rolls out of assembly
After re-engineering the new EV with an updated NMC battery, Ford’s electric Explorer is ready to roll out.
Ford announced it started mass production Tuesday at its new dedicated Cologne EV center. The first model to come off the assembly line is Ford’s new all-electric Explorer.
The Explorer EV is “a better vehicle now than we would have launched half a year ago,” according to Martin Sander, head of Ford’s Europe EV unit. The extra time was used to “get everything nailed down,” Sander explained, “to make sure that we’re delivering a perfect vehicle to our customers.
With a new battery, the electric Explorer can drive over 374 miles (600 km) on a single charge. Kieran Cahill, VP of manufacturing for Ford Europe, said the start of production (SOP) “marks the beginning of a new era for Ford in Europe.”
Ford’s electric Explorer is available in a single-motor RWD and a dual-motor AWD version in Europe.
The single-motor model starts at £45,875 ($58,000), fitted with a 77 kWh battery. Ford’s dual-motor Explorer packs VW’s 335 hp powertrain (used for its sporty GTX models) and a 79 kWh battery. Both are equipped with an extended-range NMC battery.
Ford says a standard-range NMC battery will be available at a later date. Prices are expected to start at around £39,875 ($50,000).
The electric Explorer was the first to roll off the assembly line in Cologne, but Ford is already planning its second EV in the region.
Ford said a new sports EV crossover will be revealed shortly ahead of the SOP later this year. After the new EV was spotted testing late last year by Auto Express, the new EV is expected to be an electric Ford Capri. Check back for more on Ford’s new EV soon.
Electrek’s Take
Although Ford’s new Explorer EV is aimed at Europe, the automaker may be missing an opportunity on its home turf.
Larger electric SUVs are selling. For example, Kia had its second best-ever sales month in May in the US as its new three-row EV9 electric SUV gained traction. Kia has sold 7,766 EV9 models through the first five months of the year, nearly topping its first dedicated EV, the EV6, with 8,770 models sold.
Rivian’s R1S was the fourth best-selling EV in the first quarter with a 2.9% market share, just below Ford’s Mustang Mach-E with a 3.5% share.
However, the R1S starts at $74,900 while the Mach-E starts at nearly half that at $39,995. Despite this, Ford is delaying its larger electric SUV in the US as it shifts to smaller, more affordable EVs.
Ford’s CEO Jim Farley doubled down on smaller EVs this week. In an interview with Yahoo Finance, Farley said Ford wants to compete with the best. Right now, Ford believes the biggest threat is from Chinese automakers like BYD.
What do you guys think? Would you buy an electric Explorer in the US? Or is Ford right? Smaller EVs are the way to go. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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Robinhood has officially closed its $200 million acquisition of Bitstamp, bringing one of the world’s longest-running cryptocurrency exchanges into its fold and signaling a strategic shift beyond retail trading and into the world of institutions.
The all-cash deal, first announced last year, gives Robinhood an immediate international footprint — including more than 50 active crypto licenses across Europe, the UK, and Asia — as well as an established institutional client base, something the retail trading app has long lacked.
For Robinhood, the deal marks a move into deeper waters: institutional crypto flows, lending and staking infrastructure, and white-label “crypto-as-a-service,” products built for hedge funds, fintechs, and registered investment advisors — all of which require robust systems for custody, price discovery, and settlement.
“I wouldn’t call it necessarily a pivot,” Robinhood Crypto General Manager Johann Kerbrat told CNBC. “For us, it’s combining the strengths of the two businesses. We are one of the largest retail marketplaces in the U.S. … They have products that we don’t have, like order books, crypto as a service, advanced API and lending and staking and thanks to that, we will be able to get into this space, not starting from scratch.”
Robinhood, which launched crypto trading in 2018 and helped drive the meme-coin mania of 2021, has in recent months worked to rebrand itself as a serious player in the next phase of digital asset finance — one that’s increasingly defined by regulation, institutional capital, and cross-border competition.
“Now that we’re starting to see the regulatory clarity coming from Congress and the administration, more and more institutions are going to want to get into crypto,” added Kerbrat.
The Bitstamp deal gives it a head start.
Founded in 2011, Bitstamp is known for its deep liquidity, compliant reputation, and minimalist approach. While not flashy, Bitstamp has weathered multiple market cycles and built longstanding relationships with institutional partners across Europe and Asia — something Robinhood plans to leverage.
Earlier this month, Robinhood also acquired Canadian crypto firm WonderFi to tap into Canada’s established user base.
“Robinhood is a marketplace. We don’t match orders. And with Bitstamp, we will have a robust product offering that will really allow us to build more on the active trader and advanced trader side of things,” Kerbrat said.
“That’s going to be a big step for us and really diversify our crypto business, not just from retail in the U.S. — to a global offering,” he said.
It also gives Robinhood a regulatory on-ramp to Europe, where crypto rules are clearer compared to the fragmented approach in the U.S.
The company confirmed it will maintain Bitstamp’s existing interfaces and operations for now, while exploring deeper integration over time. Bitstamp is already being used behind the scenes for smart order routing through Robinhood’s institutional web platform, Robinhood Ledger.
“The flow we’re sending to Bitstamp will make Bitstamp more lively — and attract more institutions,” Kerbrat said.
The acquisition closes at a critical moment for Robinhood.
The fintech player has continued to expand aggressively, including listing new tokens, launching staking, and teasing international product rollouts. Bitstamp’s regulatory track record and licensing portfolio may offer a measure of insulation as Robinhood pushes further into new international markets.
Kerbrat didn’t rule out the possibility of other acquisitions.
“If we can find a way to accelerate by at least 18 months or two years — and we have a lot of great reason to believe this is a great acquisition — it’s something that we’ll definitely look at,” he said.
America’s best-selling electric pickup has been hit with a recall. Ford is recalling certain 2024 and 2025 F-150 Lightning electric pickups over a faulty suspension that could cause a loss of control. Here’s how you can get the fix.
Ford is recalling 29,501 F-150 Lightning pickups
After it was outpaced by the Tesla Cybertruck last year, the Lightning reclaimed its title as the best-selling electric pickup in the US in the first quarter.
A letter sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last week shows Ford is now recalling 29,501 F-150 Lightning electric pickups.
The recall impacts 20,528 2024 and 8,973 2025 model years. In the letter, Ford stated that certain Lightning models may have an improperly torqued nut on the ball joint of the front upper control arm. Due to this, the arm can separate from the knuckle assembly, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Ford estimates only 1% of the vehicles recalled have the defect. If you hear a “clunk or rattle noise” while the suspension moves, it could be that the ball joint is loose or missing.
As of May 16, the company is only aware of one incident related to the issue. In early March, a 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning was towed to a dealership after a customer reported that the front wheel had failed while driving.
After an investigation, Ford is recalling F-150 Lightning pickups produced between February 14, 2024, and April 14, 2025.
Owners will be notified by mail to take their vehicle to a dealer for inspection. If the unit fails, dealers will replace the knuckle and nut, free of charge.
Notification letters are expected to be mailed out on June 9. If you have any questions, you can contact Ford’s customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s recall number is 24S76.
You can also call the NHTSA hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit the NHTSA website here. The NHTSA recall number is 24V949.
2025 Ford F-150 Lightning trim |
Starting Price | Range (EPA-est miles) |
| XLT | $62,995 | 240 |
| Flash | $67,995 | 320 |
| Lariat | $76,995 | 320 |
| Platinum | $84,995 | 300 |
| Platinum Black | $92,995 | 300 |
Despite adding several new charging features, an improved BlueCruise, and a new “Dark Elements” design package, the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning still starts at $62,995 with a 240-mile range.
Upgrading to the Flash trim, which features 320 miles of range, a 15.5″ touchscreen, added technology, and more, costs $67,995.
The 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning XLT is listed for lease at just $379 per month (24 months) right now. Ready to try the electric pickup for yourself? You can use our link to find offers on the F-150 Lightning at a dealer near you today.
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