As Ford Authority reported earlier this month, The Blue Oval recently made some changes to its supplemental leasing program for current and past managers, one that requires them to order either a Ford F-150 Lightning or Ford Mustang Mach-E if they wish to take advantage of that particular program. This information – which stemmed from a Reuters report – was somewhat misinterpreted by various news sites, however, who made it seem as if the automaker was forcing mangers to turn in their ICE vehicles and drive Ford EVs. However, that isn’t the case at all.
Recently, Tom Moloughney of the State of Charge YouTube channel reached out to Ford for some clarification on this matter, which helps shed some additional light on the topic. Ford, like most legacy automakers, offers special lease deals for its managers that enable them to lease one, two, or more vehicles at special rates – or in the case of some senior managers, even at no cost. However, typically, not every model is available for these special lease rates. Then there’s the supplemental lease program, which is a bit different.
In the supplemental lease program, certain vehicles are available to managers who want to lease more vehicles. However, the list of vehicles available for this program changes from time to time, and the recent update included only the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E. This means that unlike what some media outlets have reported, managers aren’t limited to just EVs if they wish to lease a vehicle, as this is only the case if they want to lease additional vehicles. As Moloughney points out, even if Ford EVs were forced upon its managers, it wouldn’t even put a dent in the automaker’s sales, to boot.
“Employees with access to the lease program can choose any available vehicle for their vehicle allocation – if the vehicle is in the program, it can be ordered,” Ford said in a statement. “Employees can also choose to participate in an optional incremental lease program beyond an employee’s included lease program if they want to lease an additional vehicle. The incremental program is not always available. The optional incremental program currently offers Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning.”
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Comment
For the last 20 years +, the Incremental lease program has had the same vehicles as the base program. Managers have come to depend on these incremental vehicles as their second vehicles. Now, Ford is saying order Battery Electric (no hybrid) or turn in your current incremental vehicle and buy your second vehicle on the outside, Ford or other brand. Call this what you want. Managers NOT happy about being treated this way!