Update: Ford's EV 'Model T moment' Announced

[Doctors Do Little]

Though I applaud ford

what do you get for $30k
2wd? 4wd
Long range battery or a standard battery
Super short bed

and will it be $30k we are talking 2 years from now
Will dealers order the $30k option
Will dealers mark them up - this is particularly interesting because dealerships make their money off of service - much of that is greatly reduced with an EV

Ford dealers are the worst. They mark up ALL new products (Raptor, Maverick, etc etc). Then, products fail to launch (Lightning) and they act offended that they have to offer big discounts to move them.

 

[danielt1263]

I dread bringing in my ICE cars for service, especially with the "complimentary" vehicle inspection, where they always find something (usually not covered) you need to maintain the warranty.

When I worked at a dealership, I learned that the person who comes to your car to chat with you in the service line works on pure commission.

 

[danielt1263]

Will dealers mark them up

I don't know if this is typical, but every dealer in my city has a "dealer fee" ranging from $1-2K that they add to all vehicle sales. If you ask, they will even tell you that this fee goes directly to the owner of the dealership.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I don't know if this is typical, but every dealer in my city has a "dealer fee" ranging from $1-2K that they add to all vehicle sales. If you ask, they will even tell you that this fee goes directly to the owner of the dealership.

Yeah, as I understand it, the range of fees goes something like this:

MSRP - wholesale cost = sales department margin

"Doc Fee" = owner margin

any of the 100 bogus finance/insurance fees (Price - actual cost) = Finance department fee (F&I Manager commission out of this).

So, I'm sure if there is a "dealer fee" or markup, it could easily go to owner, sales, or some split accordingly.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

I don't know if this is typical, but every dealer in my city has a "dealer fee" ranging from $1-2K that they add to all vehicle sales. If you ask, they will even tell you that this fee goes directly to the owner of the dealership.

Even some OEMs have "acquisition fees". So the carmakers are sneaking in extra profit. And delivery costs have tripled in the last decade. Most dealerships these days sneak in multiple BS fees. There was an act in Congress to stop this, but the NADA lobbied (AKA threatened and bribed) to get it killed.

 

[Letas]

Though I applaud ford

what do you get for $30k
2wd? 4wd
Long range battery or a standard battery
Super short bed

and will it be $30k we are talking 2 years from now
Will dealers order the $30k option
Will dealers mark them up - this is particularly interesting because dealerships make their money off of service - much of that is greatly reduced with an EV

I agree, the Ford truck likely won't be a carbon copy of the Slate (and it shouldn't be!) but for many consumers it will introduce a level of competition. That will drive prices down and increase value on both cars (hopefully).

 

[AZFox]

Ford President and CEO Jim Farley, other Ford executives, and special guests are in Kentucky today to share more about the company's plans to design and assemble breakthrough electric vehicles in America.

"The best part is that these vehicles will be affordable."

 

[Trace26]

Honestly, I think this is a pure reaction to slate. And the fact that didn't have a vehicle to show says they're trying to not get left behind and/or trying to lower sales for slate by announcing this now.
I wouldn't be surprised if they never release anything, and it gets cancelled once they hurt Slate enough.

 

[BahamaTodd]

Honestly, I think this is a pure reaction to slate. And the fact that didn't have a vehicle to show says they're trying to not get left behind and/or trying to lower sales for slate by announcing this now.
I wouldn't be surprised if they never release anything, and it gets cancelled once they hurt Slate enough.

Slate was not on Ford's radar. They started work on this over 3 years ago back when Slate was barely an idea. This was a reaction to GM's Ultium and Chinese EVs. A single EV platform that can be used for many different vehicles. Except Ford focused on minimizing cost and complexity.

 

[Dorbiman]

Slate was not on Ford's radar. They started work on this over 3 years ago back when Slate was barely an idea. This was a reaction to GM's Ultium. A single EV platform that can be used for many different vehicles. Except Ford focused on minimizing cost and complexity.

Never said it was a truck. But their new platform also isn’t just trucks.

My point is that on cost alone, it’s not revolutionary like the Model T was. We’ll see more as details are released

 

[Letas]

Honestly, I think this is a pure reaction to slate. And the fact that didn't have a vehicle to show says they're trying to not get left behind and/or trying to lower sales for slate by announcing this now.
I wouldn't be surprised if they never release anything, and it gets cancelled once they hurt Slate enough.

You're giving a company, which has never sold anything more than an idea in the form of a $50 refundable reservation, far too much credit. IF Ford was trying to "lower Slate sales", they would have waited much longer to release this info, closer to Slate sales release. Give consumers something to second-guess their purchase decision that is tangiable.



Fact of the matter is Ford is losing in the EV market at every front. Low cost is dominated by GM, and to a lesser extent, Tesla. Trucks are dominated by Rivian, with GM and Tesla also competing. Ford does nothing the best, or even close to it, and they are adapting.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I

You're giving a company, which has never sold anything more than an idea in the form of a $50 refundable reservation, far too much credit. IF Ford was trying to "lower Slate sales", they would have waited much longer to release this info, closer to Slate sales release. Give consumers something to second-guess their purchase decision that is tangiable.



Fact of the matter is Ford is losing in the EV market at every front. Low cost is dominated by GM, and to a lesser extent, Tesla. Trucks are dominated by Rivian, with GM and Tesla also competing. Ford does nothing the best, or even close to it, and they are adapting.

Makes a lot of sense, unfortunately (for Ford truck EV's). As a Lightning owner, I wish it were not true (and I'm a $50 Slate reservation holder).

 

[Letas]

Much like Slate, I will watch the development of this with optimism. Low-cost cars are good for all consumers, even if bad for Slate. Frankly, if Ford can put out a modest range EV that comes with a radio at $30k, I will hesitate to convert my Slate reservation. But both Slate and Ford's new EV are just ideas at the moment, only time will tell.

 

[Letas]

I


Makes a lot of sense, unfortunately (for Ford truck EV's). As a Lightning owner, I wish it were not true (and I'm a $50 Slate reservation holder).

The lightning seems so close to being a winner. Shame it isnt

 

[Doctors Do Little]

Plus, Ford is being somewhat smart by retooling an existing pro-union factory in KY (there are politics on top of politics there) vs just doing what huge OEM's can do....simply buy Slate if they get kind of scary, removing the domestic competition.

The lightning seems so close to being a winner. Shame it isnt

It is 90% there. The other 10% is crazy. As posted elsewhere, I've never encountered so much smooth power in driving or towing - it's a standard above any of my old ICE F150's.

But, then there is the reliability issues inherent with Ford trucks, and the seeming inability of local Ford dealers to fix what came out of the box broke.