Ford will postpone about $12 billion in EV investment as buyers become more cautious

[AI_Speed]

First, hello! This is my first post here (MachE formum veteran) and I just got my Lightning this weekend to everyone's surprise in my family, especially me. I was interested in the sweet deals they were offering as I really was looking at a truck (and willing to go EV) and my wife was fed up with her MDX and gas cost/hasle after us having a MachE for two years which she really liked (she would borrwo it whenever she could). Someone walked away from an Avalanche gray Lariat they ordered Saturday while I was out test driving the lightning...which was the only color I liked of anything in stock, so pulled the trigger and am a two-EV house hold (confess I have a 3rd old ICE car in the garage too). My wife is stoked to have the MachE full time now. I am stoked to be an owner of an amazing truck and have something to talk about on this forum.

Anyway, wanted to jump in now that I am over 2 years plus non-Tesla EV driver. All previous points are valid and this is a slight repeat: The biggest challenge EV's have IMO is the weak ass public charging infrastructure we have which forces folks to have to think/plan/stuggle which is often a deal breaker. It is coming around slowly and the deal to get us access to the Tesla network is a HUGE win. But none of the OEM's realizesd (as Tesla did) the fueling experience is mega-tied to vehicle ownership experience whereby ICE fueling is not ever considered by the car makers. Now that everyone is getting that, we should be in good shape...but until you can find public fast charging whenever you need it without waiting in line, finding the only charger you can use is down or having to unhitch your trailer to charge, then we will see a bigger uptick.

When I watch the video's from Kyle at Out of Spec Studios of the charging locaitons Europe that are coming on line, it lets us see the future we may have here in the next 3-5 years.

The biggest hook is the driving experince of an EV (it is freaking fun every time I drive my MachE or Lightning...I swear I smile every first time I press the accerator on a drive) and if the charging experience can stop being a deterrent plus costs come down (financing rates and prices), the momentum will resume.

The ER functional driving range is still too low at 220 miles or so (& a lot less in heat/cold) with a 15% to 85% charging range.

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[TaxmanHog]

The ER functional driving range is still too low at 220 miles or so (& a lot less in heat/cold) with a 15% to 85% charging range.

If I'm planning a trip going down to the lower limits, I'll charge to 100% on the start of the journey day, effective round trip range is 272, if the trip is expected to be further than that or in extreme conditions [hot/cold], plan for a mid route charging event.

 

[AI_Speed]

If I'm planning a trip going down to the lower limits, I'll charge to 100% on the start of the journey day, effective round trip range is 272, if the trip is expected to be further than that or in extreme conditions [hot/cold], plan for a mid route charging event.

I get that - & do the same + if staying with friends on a longer trip - tend to top off to 100% at their place then drive the next leg.

 

[62F1004x4]

Ford sold 20,962 bev vehicles in Q3. GM sold 20,092. Both were less than expected.

Ford MachE 5872
Etransit 937
Lightning 3503 (<46% due to limited production)

It was very difficult to get a lightning in Q3, even if you ordered it years ago. Supply of these EV trucks is still constrained and Ford is pushing the brakes.

At the local dealer you can walk up and touch 90+ F150 ICE trucks with 7 different models and they have zero EV’s. No selection of price points or trims available.

 

[LifeAsDane]

@luebri

"They need to push the performance and other benefits and footnote the climate stuff."

Couldn't agree with this take more. I feel the Torque and spirited driving this vehicle offers blows anyone away that rides with me. Add to it the tech and nice finishes and it's exactly that. A nice performance vehicle that doesn't wake the neighborhood.

 

[Roy2001]

Ford sold 20,962 bev vehicles in Q3. GM sold 20,092. Both were less than expected.

Ford MachE 5872
Etransit 937
Lightning 3503 (<46% due to limited production)

It was very difficult to get a lightning in Q3, even if you ordered it years ago. Supply of these EV trucks is still constrained and Ford is pushing the brakes.

At the local dealer you can walk up and touch 90+ F150 ICE trucks with 7 different models and they have zero EV’s. No selection of price points or trims available.

Hmm, my dealer has 40 Lightning listed, including 12 Lariat. Seems no one is buying.

 

[Texas Dan]

The Fed keeps raising the prime rate to slow down inflation. Elon Musk indicated interest rates are driving down sales of EVs. I would propose the Fed’s plan is working and is driving down sales of all vehicles, not just EVs.

Expect to see EV market share continue to increase against ICE vehicles.

 

[TaxmanHog]

The Fed keeps raising the prime rate to slow down inflation. Elon Musk indicated interest rates are driving down sales of EVs. I would propose the Fed’s plan is working and is driving down sales of all vehicles, not just EVs.

Expect to see EV market share continue to increase against ICE vehicles.

Absolute fact this is happening, I watch several economic reports all are ringing this alarm.

 

[mme_and_lightning]

I don't wish to get political here. I apologize in advance to Moderators.

The Federal Reserve Board has WAY TOO MUCH power to be appointed and if not elected, should be open to recall every 2 years. Two percent inflation is great if the FED has not put you out-of-work.

 

[WhipSticks]

The way I see it Ford has a problem with the Lightning. Their competition isn't the Tesla or the Bolt. Their competition is the Ford F150 ICE. If they gain Lightning sales they will have to eat ICE sales. Not having F150s on lots to drive is a big problem. The driving experience is freaking amazing, especially compared to the ICE F150. Being first in the field with a viable truck brought some new customers into the Ford fold (including me!), but that advantage is waning, and what they are left with is the inevitable conversion of ICE track people to EV.

Being early is good. They will lose money for a few years, but the widespread adoption of EVs is inevitable; the writing is on the wall. In that long run, the investment in the Lightning platform (and subsequent T3) will pay off, assuming they don't lose that competitive advantage. They will get burned if they allow the profit loses to stifle innovation at Ford.

 

[DanielM92563]

Hmm, my dealer has 40 Lightning listed, including 12 Lariat. Seems no one is buying.

I’ve seen similar but when I call they have 2-3 max on the lot, they list all customer and dealer ordered vehicles at various stages of production.

 

[ThomasNC]

I’ve seen similar but when I call they have 2-3 max on the lot, they list all customer and dealer ordered vehicles at various stages of production.

Not to mention the ones they do have are more than likely $85k+ trucks that should never have been built.

 

[luebri]

The Federal Reserve Board has WAY TOO MUCH power to be appointed and if not elected, should be open to recall every 2 years. Two percent inflation is great if the FED has not put you out-of-work.

Don’t disagree but fail to see the relevance. Interest rates affect ICE vehicles as well. So it really has little to do with how the EV adoption growth rate has slowed.

 

[mme_and_lightning]

Don’t disagree but fail to see the relevance. Interest rates affect ICE vehicles as well. So it really has little to do with how the EV adoption growth rate has slowed.

I do stand corrected. I read that pickup sales where down. When I read your post I wanted to get the numbers. I got real numbers from a reliable source and I found that pickups sales overall are not down. Some companies up and some down, but overall sales are good.

 

[Roy2001]

I’ve seen similar but when I call they have 2-3 max on the lot, they list all customer and dealer ordered vehicles at various stages of production.

I did see they listed a few before.

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