Puma Gen-E, the electric crossover "Made in Romania", receives essential improvements that position it more aggressively on the European market. The American manufacturer increases autonomy and brings the latest generation assisted driving system, BlueCruise.
Ford has announced major updates to the Puma Gen-E, its successful all-electric model, produced entirely at the Ford Otosan plant in Craiova. Starting in spring 2026, customers will benefit from extended range and the long-awaited hands-free highway driving system, BlueCruise. These updates underscore Ford’s commitment to electrification and raise the bar for the urban crossover segment.
One of the most important news for future owners is the optimization of the range. The current version of the Puma Gen-E, equipped with a usable battery of approximately 43 kWh, offers a combined WLTP range of 376 kilometers.
Thanks to a new construction and software optimization of the battery pack (without necessarily increasing the nominal capacity), Ford promises that the updated model will exceed the psychological threshold of 400 kilometers in the WLTP mixed regime. Moreover, in the urban cycle, where electric cars excel, the autonomy will reach an impressive value of 550 kilometers.
This increase in efficiency strengthens the competitiveness of the Puma Gen-E model, which already stands out for its decent performance (0-100 km/h in 8.0 seconds and DC fast charging at 100 kW, 10-80% in about 23 minutes), and provides an additional argument for customers who want a versatile electric vehicle for both the city and extra-urban excursions.
The second big news is the introduction of the BlueCruise Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). First introduced on the Mustang Mach-E in Europe, this semi-autonomous (Level 2/3) system is now expanding to the Puma Gen-E (alongside the Kuga and Ranger PHEV) from spring 2026.
What does BlueCruise do? The system allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel on pre-mapped sections of highway, which Ford calls “Blue Zones.” It automatically manages acceleration, braking and steering, keeping the vehicle centered in its lane.
The European network of compatible roads has been expanded and now totals approximately 135,000 kilometers in 16 countries, making long drives significantly more relaxing. It is important to note that although it allows hands-off, BlueCruise still requires the driver to keep their eyes on the road (eyes-on), being monitored by interior cameras, to intervene if necessary.
Although the Puma Gen-E is a source of pride for the Romanian automotive industry, being the first electric Ford model assembled in the country, the BlueCruise system will not be able to be used to its full potential on Romanian territory at the time of launch.
Due to current legislative limitations on autonomous driving, hands-off driving is not yet permitted on national roads. However, Ford has confirmed that the system can be activated by Romanian drivers for legal use in countries in Europe where legislation allows it.
The availability of BlueCruise, which will come as part of the optional driver assistance package, signals that cutting-edge technology is no longer reserved for premium or large-class models, becoming accessible in the B-crossover segment, contributing to fierce competition with rivals such as the Peugeot e-2008 or Volkswagen ID.3.
The new improvements to the Puma Gen-E model, especially the increased autonomy and BlueCruise integration, make it an even more formidable competitor in the electric vehicle market, preparing it for continued success in Europe, with its roots firmly planted in Craiova.