As Ford Authority previously reported, Ford has been dealing with the possibility that the Trump administration might cancel the contract between the United States Postal Service (USPS) and Oshkosh Defense’s Next-Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDV), which utilize a variety of components from Ford itself. Additionally, there was a provision in President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” that would have forced the liquidation of all 7,200 USPS all-electric delivery vehicles – including NGDVs and Ford E-Transit vans. However, the final version of the bill has left out that particular provision.
The big beautiful bill did indeed pass through the Senate by a narrow margin, after which it was approved by the House of Representatives in short order, and is now headed to Trump’s desk for final approval. However, the final version of the bill excluded the requirement for USPS to sell off its EV fleet, according to Reuters, as well as the charging equipment it has already installed, which is a big win for Ford.
The omission of this requirement likely stems from a recent ruling from the Senate parliamentarian that required a 60-vote supermajority rather than a simple majority vote for it to take effect. USPS has long warned that forcing it to get rid of the existing EV fleet and corresponding charging equipment would cost the agency upwards of $1.5 billion, which includes the cost of replacing existing models and removing infrastructure. The Post Office added that such a move would “seriously cripple our ability to replace an aging and obsolete delivery fleet.”
In addition to this omission, the final version of the budget bill excluded a proposed annual fee of $250 for EV owners that was slated to go toward road repairs, and it also ends fines for automakers that violate CAFE rules in certain cases. It isn’t all good news for automakers and consumers, however, as the federal EV tax credit is now set to end by the conclusion of September, for both new and used models.
Comment
This bill is an unbelievable win for America, I find it unbelievable how hard the media has been trying to spin it otherwise, when mere moments of due diligence can prove them wrong.