Ford caves on EV dealer program following IL loss and will cut charger requirements

[Texas Dan]

Dealers do not fill their lots with what they want to sell. Dealers attempt to fill their lots with what their customers want.

Sounds pretty naive. There is a reason those people are called salesmen.

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[Toby57]

Sounds pretty naive. There is a reason those people are called salesmen.

Not naive at all. Don't have what they want, they go on to the next lot. Hot gonna listen to salesman spill.

 

[luebri]

The headline is click bait. This statement later in the article negates the "cave"...

Ford said it would appeal the decision in a statement. A spokesperson said, “Ford stands by its voluntary Model e EV program.” The program is designed to ensure that Ford and its dealers provide Illinois Ford EV customers with a segment-leading experience,” the spokesperson explained.

Ford is appealing the decision, but they are still going to "soften" some of the requirements either way.

"Ford spokesperson Martin Gunsberg told Electrek the updates “relate to changes in the market, not a result of the Illinois outcome.”"

In other words, of course they are going to appeal, but it still does not change anything regarding them complying or pulling back on some of the original requirements.

Also, I must note Ford probably doesn't need to play as hardball with the dealers on the DCFC requirement anymore with the Tesla agreement, which was done after the initial Dealer Model E plans were laid out.

Do I think the headline is journalistic embellishment... yea, for sure. Welcome to "journalism" in 2023, but one mans "comply" is another mans "cave".

I have no dog in this fight... I despise forced intermediation (Dealers) and also despise the state of Illinois political or judicial interworkings but all that said, I do mostly side with the dealers on this one. Seems like a slippery slope to just allow Ford to alter the dealer relationship on a whim. An example would be what if Ford all of a sudden said, dealers have to put in some arduous capital investment to sell or service any higher trim (XLT & Above) ICE F150 Supercrew (Crew Cab). The dealer would have to comply because that is where the majority of sales & profit is for Ford dealers.

Not good for me, as I want more DCFC personally, but what's good for me has nothing to do with what is truly right or fair.

 

[RickLightning]

Let's put in perspective timing...

Ford gave dealerships EV requirements, and a deadline.

After the deadline, Ford cut a deal with Tesla that will make 15,000 SuperChargers accessible by Spring 2024 (and more after that).

Now, dealerships rightfully can say "why do we need to put in X fast chargers, I have a Tesla SuperCharger right near me".

 

[luebri]

Let's put in perspective timing...

Ford gave dealerships EV requirements, and a deadline.

After the deadline, Ford cut a deal with Tesla that will make 15,000 SuperChargers accessible by Spring 2024 (and more after that).

Now, dealerships rightfully can say "why do we need to put in X fast chargers, I have a Tesla SuperCharger right near me".

Yep exactly as I just noted. Totally agree.

 

[Oafy44]

No, I think you’re wrong. People are resistant to change and conversion to EVs is probably the biggest change we will see in our lifetimes aside from maybe the advent of computers. People in California, where they have been struggling with terrible air pollution for at least the past fifty years, are preconditioned to accept change related to cleaning up the air but places like Texas, that have an economy dependent on oil production, are especially resistant to changes that might cut into that production and the livelihoods of so many people.

That Texas mindset is mirrored in automotive dealerships choices. All the metropolitan areas of Texas are in non-attainment for air pollution and, even though the vehicles they sell are major contributors to that air pollution, the dealerships don’t care if making the situation better means they have to change their product line. According experts, because of the air pollution we are generating, our planet is creating the worst mass extinction event since an asteroid killed off the dinosaurs 65 million years ago but the dealerships with their choices show they don’t care that they are major contributors to this destruction.

i think your arguing two different things. I’m not here to say your wrong about the climate however I know 50% America will tell you your wrong and again, if people agree with you - have probably already bought an EV.

ford thought the remaining people would just go out and buy an EV because it’s an EV - and has found it’s not the case because of many variables that come into play that I have mentioned.
You bought an EV based on your above argument. There’s over 100 million in America that don’t agree with you so as a company how do you sell them an EV not based on climate impact?

it will happen over time just like the horse and buggy / engine - but ford thought the adoption would happen in a very short time and in reality as long as gas is relatively cheap/ ev cost are high- there is not incentive to adopt

 

[Grease Lightning]

Let's put in perspective timing...

Ford gave dealerships EV requirements, and a deadline.

After the deadline, Ford cut a deal with Tesla that will make 15,000 SuperChargers accessible by Spring 2024 (and more after that).

Now, dealerships rightfully can say "why do we need to put in X fast chargers, I have a Tesla SuperCharger right near me".

I would still love to see Ford be proactive and help pay for DCFC in smaller towns where they have a dealer but likely will not see a EA/Tesla station type anytime soon.

We have one area in the bottom edge of Oregon that the dealer is pretty much the only charger in the town and currently is only one 6kw level 2 charger. That town and the natural beauty around us is amazing, but it is 100 miles from the nearest DCFC so most EVs don’t head that way because the number of level 2 chargers in the area is too low. So Ford saying we support what this dealer is offering, but let’s take it up one notch too would be a great PR blast. And I would happily pay twice the price per kW just to make sure it was profitable to feel comfortable going to that part of our High Desert/Outback.

 

[ReputableRaccoon]

I do think forcing dealers to install DCFCs on site in order to sell EVs was a mistake from the start for a few reasons:

• EV owners don't want to spend time at a dealer unless they have to
• Dealers are typically not in ideal locations for a DCFC stop, specifically they aren't walkable to amenities such as coffee shops, restaurants, etc.
• The constant movement of vehicles around a dealer lot means it's likely the DCFC would have been ICE'd or otherwise blocked frequently which is frustrating for EV owners
• Dealers are unlikely to maintain the DCFC properly because of resentment of being forced to install them and potentially operate them at a loss

Ford should be focused on reducing the interactions between dealers and their EV customers as much as possible. If Ford and the other legacy automakers can't shed their dealers due to the regulatory fortress dealers have built around themselves, they need to start offering mobile service or create their own company owned service centers focused on EVs. Deny the dealers access to customers to the bare minimum as mandated by law.

Ford and other legacy automakers need to start chipping away dealership franchise protections in states most likely to embrace it. Once they can offer direct sales to customers in several states and adjacent states, they can breach the dealer dam that is destroying their reputations.

Additionally, Ford should have been one of the automakers investing in a new DCFC network, joining BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai/Kia, MB, and Stellantis that was announced earlier this year.

 

[F150ROD]

I do think forcing dealers to install DCFCs on site in order to sell EVs was a mistake from the start for a few reasons:

• EV owners don't want to spend time at a dealer unless they have to
• Dealers are typically not in ideal locations for a DCFC stop, specifically they aren't walkable to amenities such as coffee shops, restaurants, etc.
• The constant movement of vehicles around a dealer lot means it's likely the DCFC would have been ICE'd or otherwise blocked frequently which is frustrating for EV owners
• Dealers are unlikely to maintain the DCFC properly because of resentment of being forced to install them and potentially operate them at a loss

Ford should be focused on reducing the interactions between dealers and their EV customers as much as possible. If Ford and the other legacy automakers can't shed their dealers due to the regulatory fortress dealers have built around themselves, they need to start offering mobile service or create their own company owned service centers focused on EVs. Deny the dealers access to customers to the bare minimum as mandated by law.

Ford and other legacy automakers need to start chipping away dealership franchise protections in states most likely to embrace it. Once they can offer direct sales to customers in several states and adjacent states, they can breach the dealer dam that is destroying their reputations.

Additionally, Ford should have been one of the automakers investing in a new DCFC network, joining BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai/Kia, MB, and Stellantis that was announced earlier this year.

They do have Mobile Service, but guess who runs it? Dealers. They cant milk more money off of you with Mobile Service so they dont offer it. They'd rather have you come in.

Again, I believe they can have both dealers and direct sales but need to have a delivery center.

Even putting in an order for an EB F-150 was a pain in the ass after agreeing on a price. Once the truck was delivered to the dealer they played games because at the time Trucks were in demand.

Ford Owned delivery centers for Online purchases. Ford can send dealer stock as usual. Let dealers go bankrupt as people will prefer to wait than get gouged.

I hope dealers understand that it's not going to get any better for them. Kids dont want to drive anymore, kids are more tech savvy. Of course you will have a handful of "I need it now"

 

[mattskr]

If I was Ford I’d take my Model e business, brand everything electric with that, and say FU to the dealers.

Build new Model e Service centers and do business the same as Tesla and Rivian does to avoid these antiquated laws. If they don’t they will be eaten alive by any manufacturer who follows the Tesla model. I love my truck but my next is probably a Rivian only because the dealer experience is so bad.

Existing dealers can keep selling “Ford Blue” and keep screwing people over as they have for decades with should-be-illegal practices until one day they wake up and realize: “oh crap…everything is electric now!” And then they slowly go out of business.

Dealers need to be a relic of the past like Blockbusters and book stores. Can you imagine if there had been silly state laws that kept Blockbuster alive?

 

[Smokewagun]

Great. My Lightning value is in the crapper, and I’ve only had it 3 months. The $12k in equity I had is gone. Probably in negative numbers. Thanks Ford and Feds. You sold the kool-aid, we bought, now we have vehicles we are stuck with unless we take a major loss. Glad I save money each month. I hope I’ll break even… someday.

 

[62F1004x4]

I like some of the dealers out there. There is a YouTube
Video discussing the changes made by Ford and Model E dealer requirements. Of note this also changes the ability for dealers to provide service on electric vehicles if they have the tools. For future repairs I am interested in taking the lightning to a certified elite dealer and not just the nearest one to get better service. Now I know to find them just look for the level three charger!

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