Ford cancels Model e Dealer Program, letting all US retailers sell EVs

[ChasingCoral]

With expanded resources and training, all dealers will be able to sell and service electric vehicles and support Ford customers. This means more than 90% of Americans will live within 20 miles of a Ford dealer that can sell and service EVs such as the Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and Enon-Transit.

Here’s what you need to know:

• To help reduce barriers to entry for both our dealers and our customers, Ford will discontinue the voluntary Model e EV Program from July 1, 2024, effectively opening EVs up to the entire Ford dealer network – doubling to over 2,800 the number of Ford Dealers that can sell and services EVs.
• Before the end of 2024, Dealers who were not part of the voluntary Model e Program will have access to EV inventory and will be visible on Ford.com, giving customers greater choice of dealers and EV stock.
• For a Dealer to sell and service EVs, they must demonstrate fundamental EV Competency, which most already meet. EV Competency includes:

• Staying current on existing EV Training Planners across all roles to ensure EV knowledge and employee safety
• Having the hardware and equipment elements needed to safely and effectively perform EV service work
• Installing two Level 2 chargers & three NEMA plugs

While the voluntary Model e Program is being discontinued, the experiences that were part of the Program have had a highly beneficial impact on customer satisfaction. Ford recommends that Dealers continue to provide customers with these elevated experiences.

Ford is committed to EVs, and is looking forward to partnering with dealers to increase EV accessibility to customers across the U.S., regardless of where they live.

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[Billyk24]

Wow! Lets see if dealers continue to further their staff and techs on electrified Ford products.

 

[The Electric Duo]

I'm sure this will get a lot of negative attention but overall I think this is a good move. The requirement to install a DCFC was a pretty big expense for smaller and more rural dealers. But even for bigger dealers, it is a hard pill to swallow. And in some locations, it just didn't make sense. I think it also created a lot of bitterness with the dealerships as well.

IMO, make good EV products that customers want (and at a good price), and the dealers will want to sell them.

 

[migmig420]

I can’t help but feel Ford has been making a lot of bad moves here recently.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I can’t help but feel Ford has been making a lot of bad moves here recently.

At least they are trying!

 

[Gimme_my_MME]

 

[Sikkun]

Get rid of dealers, direct sale (hey we can all get screwed on price instead of variable levels of being screwed).

Focus on EV service.

I can dream.

 

[migmig420]

I’m dreaming with you!

 

[lesz]

With expanded resources and training, all dealers will be able to sell and service electric vehicles and support Ford customers. This means more than 90% of Americans will live within 20 miles of a Ford dealer that can sell and service EVs such as the Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and Enon-Transit.

Here’s what you need to know:

• To help reduce barriers to entry for both our dealers and our customers, Ford will discontinue the voluntary Model e EV Program from July 1, 2024, effectively opening EVs up to the entire Ford dealer network – doubling to over 2,800 the number of Ford Dealers that can sell and services EVs.
• Before the end of 2024, Dealers who were not part of the voluntary Model e Program will have access to EV inventory and will be visible on Ford.com, giving customers greater choice of dealers and EV stock.
• For a Dealer to sell and service EVs, they must demonstrate fundamental EV Competency, which most already meet. EV Competency includes:
• Staying current on existing EV Training Planners across all roles to ensure EV knowledge and employee safety
• Having the hardware and equipment elements needed to safely and effectively perform EV service work
• Installing two Level 2 chargers & three NEMA plugs

While the voluntary Model e Program is being discontinued, the experiences that were part of the Program have had a highly beneficial impact on customer satisfaction. Ford recommends that Dealers continue to provide customers with these elevated experiences.

Ford is committed to EVs, and is looking forward to partnering with dealers to increase EV accessibility to customers across the U.S., regardless of where they live.

The dealer where I bought my Mach-e GT last August stopped selling EV‘s this year. Does that mean they can/will start selling them again?

 

[HuntingPudel]

The dealer where I bought my Mach-e GT last August stopped selling EV‘s this year. Does that mean they can/will start selling them again?

It means that they can. Whether they will is another question. ??

 

[Scooby24]

This seems like a very bad move for customers. I wouldn't want to buy an EV from a dealer only to find out they can't do anything to assist me with it if there's a problem.

 

[Bard95]

So I took a different step by trading in my 21 select for 23 GT and leased it. They gave a tremendous discount which made the lease attractive, but some drawback due to the loss on the loan for the 21.

Bottom line is, in 2027 I return the vehicle, and Move on!

 

[Bard95]

So I took a different step by trading in my 21 select for 23 GT and leased it. They gave a tremendous discount which made the lease attractive, but some drawback due to the loss on the loan for the 21.

Bottom line is, in 2027 I return the vehicle, and Move on!

And don’t get me wrong. I love my 23 GT.

I am concerned about the company who made it.

 

[phil]

Well, this must be pretty humiliating for the geniuses who rammed through this foolish program just a few months ago. Makes it obvious how little Ford understands its own market. At least they were smart enough to eventually figure out they were on the wrong track, and flexible enough to give it up and start over. So, I'll give them credit for that. But wow, they are looking very clueless these days. Like a deer in the headlights. They better get their act together soon if they want to survive as a major manufacturer for another century.

 

[agoldman]

who would want to go to a Ford dealer to charge? No thanks. But in a hot market, dealers could return to price gauging I suppose. Not much of an issue at the moment.

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