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CEO Jim Farley Says Ford Hybrid Pivot Relatively Inexpensive

With demand for all-electric vehicles falling behind expected levels of growth as of late, Ford has since pivoted in a different direction – delaying some planned EV models while also touting its existing, diverse powertrain lineup. With chairman Bill Ford recently noting that the company isn’t trying to force customers to buy EVs, a new Ford hybrid push has emerged as the automaker plans to offer an electrified version of every vehicle in the Ford Blue (ICE) lineup by 2030. One may assume that this rapid Ford hybrid expansion would cost The Blue Oval significant money, but during the company’s Q1 2024 earnings call with investors, CEO Jim Farley revealed that this pivot won’t be quite as pricey as some may think.

“We have the components in our system from the hybrid, the torque splitting devices that, we do have to up the investment in some capacities like our hybrid transmissions, but we’ve made the decision to do that already and that’s in our spending plan this year,” Farley said. “I think we’re in really good shape. It doesn’t require wholesale inventing new powertrains. But it does involve some engineering and investment in capacity. I would say kind of modest investments, mostly in the capacity side and some engineering.”

This is certainly good news for a company that saw its hybrid sales skyrocket just last month, surging by 59.5 percent to 17,997 units – a new record, even as Ford’s overall sales declined by 2.4 percent. In 2023, The Blue Oval had the top two best-selling hybrid pickups in its lineup as well – the Ford Maverick Hybrid and the Ford F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid. At the same time, the automaker expects its hybrid sales to continue to grow well into the near future.

To meet its goal of offering a hybrid across the entire Ford Blue lineup, FoMoCo will need to add quite a few new electrified models, though in many cases, it may be able to use existing powertrains to do so. For example, the refreshed 2025 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator are expected to add a hybrid option, which could be the same twin turbocharged 3.5L V6 PowerBoost already present in the hybrid F-150, since those vehicles share a platform and other components.

We’ll have more on the Ford’s hybrid push soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for continuous Ford news coverage.

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.

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Comments

  1. One would think that having had the hybrid technology since the 2004 Escape, as well as having produced in Hybrid or PHEV form the C-MAX, the Fusion/Mondeo, the Escape/Kuga, the Explorer, the F-150, the Corsair GT and the Aviator GT, the Ford Motor Company would have figured out that “this hybrid thing” might save our backside! DUH!

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  2. Forgot to mention the Maverick!

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  3. Maybe having more new cars on the lot would help the sales. At least in middle America where I live. Tick Tock where are the 2024 Nautilus’. I remember ordering back in the day and getting my new car in about a month.

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  4. The successful boycott against EVs is now moving to Hybrids. We will keep teaching Ford these financially painful lessons.

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  5. hay Bill if you build them they will sell,now how about my 2023 hybred maverick I am still waiting and I hope you honnor my original 2023 price from when I ordered it in 2022

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  6. by the way I still have my eliminator crate motor $4,000 worth that you made a big splash at sema some how you failed to follow through with your plans no one knows how to make it work Ford performance just gives the runaround it makes a nice coffee table or boat anchor

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  7. Well, well, well, Jim may finally have come to his senses.
    But far to late. Every vehicle Ford builds should have a Hybrid, NOT plug in hybrid ,version. And that should have been done 3 years ago. With Ford cutting models, in favor of EVs production, they really type cast themselves. Just because F-150s are the #1 seller, doesn’t mean you cut every car and most other models from your line up.
    There is still a huge need for smaller cars, and several sizes of SUVs and all hybrids. Currently Ford won’t sell the Explorer Hybrid to folks, just to Police departments. Dumb move. They also need to remember what HYBRID is all about. Fuel Savings ! Not Horsepower! Toyota forgot that when they came out with the new Tacoma, Land Cruiser, and 4 Runner. Which all could easily get over 30 MPG , like the Hybrid Highlander.
    Ford take note ! Try listening to your customers, instead of the government, or your engineers !

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  8. I think they will need to develop a more aggressive hybrid truck than what they have now. The Ram 1500 PHEV looks good on paper and if it meets those specs, Ford may not be the truck of choice.

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  9. How about an edge hybrid? Too late?

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  10. I bought a 2023 F150 Lariat Powerboost in March and it’s been absolutely fantastic. I powered my house twice with it since I’ve gotten it.

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  11. I purchased a 2020 Escape hybrid new. A hybrid will be my next purchase.

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  12. I have a 2023 F-150 King Ranch power boost. It is awesome and I am very happy with it!

    Reply

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