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Half Of Ford Dealers Not Yet Committing To Selling EVs Yet

GM’s crosstown rival, Ford Motor Company, says that half of its roughly 3,000 U.S. dealers will continue to sell only hybrid and ICE-powered vehicles through 2024, reflecting a hesitation to invest in the infrastructure required to sell and service all-electric vehicles. Ford previously indicated that roughly two-thirds of dealers had enrolled in the company’s voluntary Model e Program to become an EV dealership. Charging station investment is a particular sticking point for some dealers.

According to a recent report from Detroit Free Press, Ford spokesman Marty Gunsberg indicated that the lower EV commitment among dealers reflects varying EV adoption rates for customers around the country, stating that the company believes that the dealers “know their market best.” Gunsberg told Detroit Free Press that dealers had completed their own local market assessments, and that with over 50 percent of the network enrolled in the EV program (or roughly 1,550 dealers), 86 percent of the population would be within 20 miles of an EV-certified Ford dealership.

Ford previously indicated that it had enrolled 1,920 dealers in the Model e Program for 2024 through 2026, but Gunsberg confirmed that some of those dealers had withdrawn from the program. Ford initially indicated that dealers would be required to shell out $500,000 to $1.2 million to install charging infrastructure and receive certification. The investment requirements triggered lawsuits challenging the certification program, resulting in Ford lowering the investment requirements and the number of charging stations per dealership.

Ford indicated that dealers in EV-heavy states like California were more eager to move forward with the investments.

Meanwhile, GM is offering buyout deals to a selection of dealers that are unwilling to make the EV transition, including Cadillac and Buick dealers, both of which have seen a significant reduction in the dealer network as a result of the offer. Meanwhile, Chevy dealers unwilling to make the transition will not receive a buyout offer. GM has committed to transition its light-duty lineup to EVs by 2035.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. EVs are the future but legacy auto needs to know that instead of making them all look like station wagons.

    Reply
    1. They can’t have a future without buyers.

      Reply
      1. Exactly. There is no future in a product people cannot afford. I don’t care if the Model Y is currently the best selling car in the world. There are only so much upper class buyers on planet Earth that can afford them and the mass market as a whole is what determines the direction of the auto industry.

        Reply
      2. They could be GREAT as an ADDITION—– But NEVER as a REPLACEMENT!!!

        Reply
  2. Not surprised, over half of drivers not committed to buying them.

    Reply
  3. gm shrinking it’s footprint. Trying to put themselves out of business?

    Reply
  4. Smart move by dealers. Investing $200k-$500k is foolish at this point in the EV transition. Just look at the 47% of Buick dealers that decided to take buyout offers rather than commit to the EV transition.

    Reply
  5. Taking on EV’s is a loosing proposition, the Majority of Drivers DO NOT WANT THEM.

    Reply
  6. Expected. This clearly shows dealers are not interested in selling EVs.

    Thats why Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, Fisker decided to sell directly.
    Battery prices has gone down to $139 / KWh and that for BEVs, just $128 / KWh. So why the automakers are pricing their EVs above $40 K.

    New EV makers will soon launch sub $30K cars and that will bring the change.

    Reply
    1. Nah!!! Price isn’t the only reason for EV decline.
      Infrastructure not there, and what is there, is NOT always working, except for TESLA(from what I’m told).
      People complain, some are in out of the way places, bringing up safety issues.
      As I’ve said before••• good for an addition>>> not for a replacement!!!

      Reply

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