Over the past few months, Ford has scaled back its electrification plans in a big way, downsizing its under-construction plants in terms of footprint and output, as well as delaying a couple of future models. This comes amid slower-than-expected growth in demand for EVs across the globe, but it’s clear that Ford still sees those types of vehicles as the future. In fact, CEO Jim Farley thinks that at least half of today’s consumers would be better served with one, rather than a traditional ICE vehicle.
“On electrification, we’ve been very vocal about why electric vehicles are so important and a great choice for customers and businesses,” Farley said while speaking to investors on the automaker’s Q2 earnings call. “Customers’ usage data and cost of ownership data would indicate about 50 percent of customers who buy automobiles would be better served buying an electric vehicle.”
These comments aren’t terribly surprising given Farley’s belief that the general public will eventually embrace EVs, though those types of vehicles remain quite controversial – and heavily politicized – at the moment. The executive has also acknowledged that high pricing is one of the biggest barriers standing in the way of EV adoption, and he also believes that consumers need to fall back in love with small cars, versus the large SUVs and pickups that they gravitate toward now.
As such, Ford created a skunkworks team that has been working in secrecy for the past couple of years to develop a low-cost EV platform, which will underpin a few future models – starting with a crossover slated to arrive in late 2026 with a $30k price tag. Farley is such a big believer in that particular effort that he recently admitted that Ford is “going to bet the company on them,” too.
We’ll have more on Ford’s EV strategy soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for continuous Ford news coverage.
Comments
He’s so full of S***
EVs, “going to bet the company on them”, says Farley. Time to sell my Ford stock.
FartinFarley would be better off using 50% more of his peabrain.
The man is CLUELESS!
What is wrong with him? No, we would not! Start putting all your time, money, and R&D into ICE and hybrids!
WE DON’T WANT THEM
You don’t want them.
Who’s we? And why all caps? Weird.
Normal American people!
And you speak for all of them? And what of the millions of Americans who do have EVs? They’re not “normal?”
You environmental weirdos aren’t normal.
Electric vehicles are the future…. With an ev one can charge at home overnight and only pay $6 per fill 300miles ( mache 2021.). I fill 2x per month which means I spend $12-mo. You get better, quicker, and less visits to the dealership for oil changes, etc….
Simple
But more visits to the tire store so it all balances out.
You probably have never lived in my neck of the woods where the summers are too short, and the winters are too long. EV’s are almost impossible to charge in below freezing temperatures. In my neck of the woods, I guarantee you will pay way more than 12/mo. to recharge your EV. You also never mention the $16,000 replacement cost (part only) for the battery and the $10,000 replacement cost (part only) for one electric motor.
I’ve worked for a Ford dealership for 31 years. And I’ve never seen them screwed up like they are right now. It’s really time for Farley to go. When they force EV’son you and tell you they’re gonna take allocation for stuff you can sell I think that’s called blackmail.
Please read the room, Mr. Farley. Successful companies manufacture/sell products that buyers want…..not the other way around. Please stop telling us what we “need” and discontinue removing content from vehicles we want. If I can’t get the features and size vehicle I want from Ford/Lincoln, I’ll be forced to go somewhere I can.
As a owner of a 2017 F-350 diesel dually I’m sure not in that 50%. No electric truck has the towing capacity, range or payload of my truck.
Amen and me myself don’t want anything to do with any electric cars
Maybe 100% of Ford customers would be better off getting the Blue Cruise updates we have been promised for 4 years.
50% of Ford buyers would be better off with better reliability.
Just make reliable affordable vehicles and STFU!
8/5/24
Companies who are successful listen to what customer want and provide that product service. Until our countries electrical grid can handle a massive influx of EV charging stations, both public and in the home it’s a long way off.
I don’t understand why Ford chose to stop producing cars after 2019. Not everybody needs or wants a big SUV. I hope Ford will put their energy into producing hybrid PHEV cars . It’s much more affordable than a full EV. It’s kind of the best of both worlds makes more sense to most of us.
A few months ago, I purchased the Ford Fusion Energi Titanium PHEV and was really happy with it until a few weeks later Ford released the details of the recall that dated back to 2019. My Dealer had to install a fuse blocker which has totally dismantled the benefits of having a hybrid. The total solution for a new battery isn’t going to be available until July of next year. I don’t understand having five years since the initial recall, the solution now is a two part solution that leaves customers now having to buy gas for their hybrid car. This doesn’t make any sense to me. How about offering some kind of a discount gas card or something we can use to ease the financial fuel burden, until we can get back to the hybrid benefits. It’s a much less expensive courtesy to your customers than suggesting that we sell back our Fusion 2019 Energi PHEV which is a gorgeous car, very comfortable, lots of wonderful safety features, fabulous interior. I absolutely love this car. I do think the way Ford handled this situation was not really in the best interest of the customers. And I’m surprised about that because Ford is certainly a long time and reputable manufacturer.
I hope Ford can resume it strong and trusted position in the marketplace.
Respectfully, Mrs. Patricia Ogle in Oregon. My dealer is Landmark Ford Tigard, Oregon, and absolutely terrific group of people.
You can use that Fusion as a hybrid, not a PHEV at the present time. I guess you hardly drive it and that 20 EV miles a day is all that you need. Get rid of it and buy a new PHEV. Whoever fell in love with a Ford Fusion.
It’s not a mystery, well except for some people, why they stopped producing sedans. The government has a stricter CAFE rating for sedans.
Not me. Their sales are in free fall. Give me a Hybrid.
Farley is 50% of the problem at Ford.
The other 50% of the problem is Bill Ford for keeping him employed there
For all the crap that Farley takes (and he deserves it), the real problem is Bill Ford’s love affair with environmentalism. He picks people that align with his worldview, and that’s the problem. Ford needs a new Chairman.
Everything Bill Ford touched at Ford since the early 2000s turned to crap.
Buy an EV and spend money upgrading your home electrical and buying a level 2 charger. I can understand how it’s cheaper.
Farley doesn’t know JACK! He’s taking Ford down the tubes. Wise Up fast Bill. Get him outta there.
HE CAN SHOVE HIS EV BS STRAIGHT UP HIS A!!! I’M GLAD HE IS THINKING FOR ALL OF US!!!
JUST ANOTHER WEF SPONSORED DOUCHE!!!
Don’t go WOKE. Come out with an affordable midsize “Gas” sedan in the USA.
Don’t go WOKE anymore than you have. Come out with an affordable Gas powered Sedan!
If Ford or Farley are concerned with how much a customer spends on repairs…they need to deep think…how much there recall and poor Quality is causing it….
In talking to scores of EV owners, I have yet to have one tell me they would go back to pumping gas. I understand not every driving application is suitable for an EV right now, but many people want the performance, convenience, cleanliness, and savings they enable. When I look at the American automobile industry today, I see similarities to the challenges they faced in the 60s and 70s from German and Japanese imports that were more fuel-efficient, yet high quality. The Big Three continued their insistence on selling large, gas guzzlers because they made more profit per unit. They each lost market share from which it has never recovered. Chinese EVs present the same challenge today. Ford and others will become dinosaurs if they don’t develop, affordable, high-quality EVs, both for the American market and global market.
But look again….the foreign brands copyed Detroit…not the other way around…look at the size of a mid 70s Honda Accord…verus now…and Toyota Camry….they grown big time….plus both have large SUVs…..and full size pickups…
Have Hybrid want another Hybrid, but how about some new styling, even the Maverick looks like a shrinky dink F-150. Ford , how about some decent wheels. Have owned 14 Ford’s in the last 58 years. Looking to buy in the next year. Is not looking like it will be a Ford
WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH ELECTRIC POWER TO SUPPORT EV. PLUS FARLEY WANTS TO KILL FORD. HE NEED TO GET THE REAL BOOT.
Jim Farley thinks he is Joseph Stalin, and can tell me what I want and what is better for me in my life. What a crock of s&%t. No wonder Ford is being run into the ground, dropping models and driving customers away from certain segments. Isn’t he a real piece of work? Where did Ford find him? In a “safe space” with a coloring book and crayons?
The majority of the population does not want the inconvenience of electric vehicles. Those of us with older houses may not even have the open capacity in our panels to add a charging station if we had to, nor do we want the expense of that. ICE is just a better way to go for most of us. A 5 minute fillup on a trip is not attainable with EVs!
Also, I’m glad I got a 22 Maverick Lariat before they starting decontenting them and adding expensive filters that also decrease HP! STOP going backwards!
Farley would be “better served” by keeping his mouth shut and letting the customer decide what’s best for them and having the company provide the vehicles the customer wants.
Farley is an over payed hack whose only concerned with increasing his yearly salary $21 million the 1st year 26 million the 2nd year bet he tops 30 million this year. I used to buy new Fords exclusively but NO MORE. Their skyrocketing MSRPs are only matched by their plummeting Quality Control.
Plus the fact that the technology is present for a self contained EV that never needs to plug into the power grid. We all need to be demanding WHY this hasn’t been released to the public.
I use to be a 100% ford guy, now I’m the other 50% and drive a 100% trouble free Lexus. I bought 12 new fords in my life, never again because of nut jobs like Farley
I too disagree with Farley and his EV optimism. Further, when an auto manufacturer states that their vehicle will have a “$30K price tag.” (which is up from the original $25K price of a few months ago) we can be relatively certain that figure will represent the base MSRP, which of course does not represent a configuration that people will actually purchase. How many $39,995 Lightenings have sold? My wife and I both have Ford Hybrids… a 2016 Fusion Titanium and a 2021 F-150 4×4 Lariat and could only be more pleased with them if they were both Plug-In Hybrids considering our driving habits and geographic location. I am very much in favor of EVs, however they don’t strike me as being fully practical until some time in the distant future when there is an infrastructure to support them and the driving range more closely resembles that of the ICE.
May be in the future. But presently, do I need to purchase an EV for local use and an ICE for distance travel. I think that it’s a waste to have 2 vehicles. Not all areas have charging ports. The places that I know that are far removed from the big cities don’t want them. Do I need to load an ICE generator or take an ICE bus for long trips?
It’s time for Failure Farley to resign.