Honeymoon Over?

[Mach1E]

I second all that. The Mach E is Ford's Toyota Prius proof-of-concept vehicle. They have to stick by it no matter what, just like Toyota did w/its Prius. And that commitment bore wildly successful fruit as they leveraged that hybrid technology to practically all their vehicles. Ford may do something a little different with their universal EV lineup, but some version of the Mach E, their EV standard bearer, will always be around, or at least until they've established a permanent foothold in the non-truck EV market.

That won’t work.

How many direct competitors did the Prius have?

Right now there are 73 EV models for sale by major manufacturers in the US and the most popular models are small crossovers (direct Mach E competitors).

The number of models being released is greater than the growth of the EV market.

And of those 73 models, it only takes about 20,000 sales per year to get in the “top 10,” which is horrible and well below what it takes to make a profit.

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[Tampamike]

I guess I lost interest in sedans when I gave my old Dodge Intrepid to my kids and bought the first model Ford Edge CUV. The wife got rid of her Fusion for a Acura RX. I went next to a BMW X6 and then downsized to the MachE. Next one will probably be the BMW iX3 Neue Klasse. Or I might just get another MachE. With all of the oversized pickups in the road here in the free state of Florida, I like a little bit of size and height instead of the low slung sedan feel.

 

[SonicBlue]

I guess I lost interest in sedans when I gave my old Dodge Intrepid to my kids and bought the first model Ford Edge CUV. The wife got rid of her Fusion for a Acura RX. I went next to a BMW X6 and then downsized to the MachE. Next one will probably be the BMW iX3 Neue Klasse. Or I might just get another MachE. With all of the oversized pickups in the road here in the free state of Florida, I like a little bit of size and height instead of the low slung sedan feel.

Agree on leaving the sedans for good. Have you considered the Cadillac Lyriq V (new for 2026)? I’d be interested in how it compares to the iX3.

 

[WallyS56]

Prior to my 2024 MME I drove Ford Fusions for 10 years. Over those 10 years I steadily progressed toward my now-EV consciousness. First a 2014 ICE Fusion. Then a 2016 hybrid, then a 2018 plug-in hybrid. When the MME came out, I thought 'golly Bob howdy!' that was the wave of Ford's future and boy was I excited! Now? Not so much.

The more I hear what's coming out of Ford CEO Jim Farley's mouth, the more I understand my rising disappointment in Ford. In a recent article posted in Ford Authority he said, in part:

"we don’t want to make cars for everyone. We want to make beautiful off-road machines and work vehicles."

Well that much is apparent just by looking at the current lineup of Ford vehicles. But dear Jim, I don't drive off-road and I don't want or need a work vehicle. Nor am I a hot-rod youngster (think Mustang). I'm retired and my knees hurt most days. I want comfort and affordability in a mid-level EV, not a work truck. I want a car I can drive through an automatic car wash without it ripping off body parts and trims. I want a vehicle where original-design features actually remain and work rather than looking at their non-functional or repurposed vestigial artifacts and feeling disappointed.

And now, with Ford's decision to build small pickups as first choice using their future universal EV platform, it seems the handwriting is on the wall. Trucks, trucks, trucks. But then again, who knows? The future is unwritten and I may be surprised.

In the meantime I'm not going to defect. I own my MME outright, enjoy it and I'll drive it until I can no longer afford to own it. By then the EV market in general, and Ford's lineup in particular, will hopefully be more diverse.

Now if I can just get the Ford app to work consistently, dammit!

Well said. I’ve been a Ford guy since 1990- have five currently from a ‘69 to a ‘24, but until America can be somehow cured of its addiction to larger and larger SUVs and trucks, we’re stuck. Maybe, because we’re living on the edge of a dystopian collapse, most people think that they need a zombie-apocalypse vehicle. I’ve got a ‘93 F150 4x4 and an AWD Ford Flex for that. And a can opener.

 

[ItIsAMustang]

Just my $0.02 input but I think the biggest barrier to EV adoption in the US is the current administration. Pulling the EV subsidy doesn't help and the problem is that other markets are adopting EVs more and Ford's overseas competition (China) has government funding for R&D. This is a really bad situation for Ford and Chevy. They must invest to keep their tech stack current but without gov't support (through subsidies) they will have a hard time making the whole endeavor profitable. Couple that with a narcissist that needs is *ss kissed and the execs at Ford must pander. But look at Mr. Ford's expressions at the factory walkthrough - he was clearly uncomfortable.

Oh well - such is the challenge of most large businesses in the US competing on the global stage.

 

[Mach1E]

Just my $0.02 input but I think the biggest barrier to EV adoption in the US is the current administration. Pulling the EV subsidy doesn't help and the problem is that other markets are adopting EVs more and Ford's overseas competition (China) has government funding for R&D. This is a really bad situation for Ford and Chevy. They must invest to keep their tech stack current but without gov't support (through subsidies) they will have a hard time making the whole endeavor profitable. Couple that with a narcissist that needs is *ss kissed and the execs at Ford must pander. But look at Mr. Ford's expressions at the factory walkthrough - he was clearly uncomfortable.

Oh well - such is the challenge of most large businesses in the US competing on the global stage.

You really think that’s the “biggest barrier?”

It’s an easy scapegoat for headlines and definitely isn’t helping things, but that’s hardly the biggest barrier.

I see many much larger issues:

Profitability for the manufacturers
Cost/pricing
Consumer preferences (#1 issue to adoption)
Current technology

These issues all existed before 2025 and EV sales/demand haven’t been increasing nearly as quickly as new models have been released. Despite MASSIVE decreases in EV prices (especially adjusted for inflation).

Heck, the 2021 GTPE I bought should be almost $90,000 MSRP in 2025 if you adjusted for inflation. Instead you can buy them for significantly less, yet the amount sold isn’t increasing very much.

And that was true before the tax credits ended in September. The credits were only initially meant to kick start the EV industry, and they definitely did. We shouldn’t have to use our tax dollars to subsidize new car purchases forever.

 

[SonicBlue]

You really think that’s the “biggest barrier?”

It’s an easy scapegoat for headlines and definitely isn’t helping things, but that’s hardly the biggest barrier.

I see many much larger issues:

Profitability for the manufacturers
Cost/pricing
Consumer preferences (#1 issue to adoption)
Current technology

These issues all existed before 2025 and EV sales/demand haven’t been increasing nearly as quickly as new models have been released. Despite MASSIVE decreases in EV prices (especially adjusted for inflation).

Heck, the 2021 GTPE I bought should be almost $90,000 MSRP in 2025 if you adjusted for inflation. Instead you can buy them for significantly less, yet the amount sold isn’t increasing very much.

And that was true before the tax credits ended in September. The credits were only initially meant to kick start the EV industry, and they definitely did. We shouldn’t have to use our tax dollars to subsidize new car purchases forever.

Thank you for adding some much needed rational thought.

 

[Tidybum]

Technically, in my state, my Mach-e is classified as a truck on the registration. Not sure exactly why, but it doesn't mean they couldn't use a truck platform to continue to build something like the Mach-e

 

[Mach1E]

Technically, in my state, my Mach-e is classified as a truck on the registration. Not sure exactly why, but it doesn't mean they couldn't use a truck platform to continue to build something like the Mach-e

Car, truck, SUV, wagon…….. states can’t really decide what it is.

It’s why we use the generic term “crossover.” It’s everything and nothing all at the same time.

 

[Jerrytball]

Just saw this today just posted because it’s got a current date
As of February 12, 2026, Ford announced a $4.8 billion loss in its EV division for 2025

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Just saw this today just posted because it’s got a current date
As of February 12, 2026, Ford announced a $4.8 billion loss in its EV division for 2025

Yup. Ford also losses money on every Mach-e sold. The mme line is every bit as vulnerable to termination as the Lightning was.

 

[Herbknowsit]

Gotta feel for Ford in that they have to be competitive globally, not just in the US. By scrambling to pull the plug on advancing EV's, they will lose overseas markets. I would hope the upcoming Bolt keeps GM viable in affordable EV's and shows that Ford's desire to play there too is valid. Both brands need to be ready for 2028 when once again, the merry go round starts up and the US (might) begin again to shy away from fossil fuels. I don't know how in hell GM and Ford can play the long game when the field keeps getting tilted and the sideline markers moved in and out.

 

[rad1234]

I have bought or leased over 50 Ford cars or SUVs in my over 70 years. I have never bought a truck and I never will. My next vehicle apparently will not be a Ford.

Likewise, I have driven mostly Ford product in my 52 years of driving. My first being a 1967 Mercury Comet Cyclone with a 427 from a wrecked Torino. I need a pickup truck about once a year. That is what a trailer hitch and the neighbor's flatbed trailer are for. The other 364 days of the year it would be a waste. It wouldn't fit in the garage either, door too low.

 

[rad1234]

Technically, in my state, my Mach-e is classified as a truck on the registration. Not sure exactly why, but it doesn't mean they couldn't use a truck platform to continue to build something like the Mach-e

When I took my Mach E to the license bureau, the lady had to walk out to see the vehicle and match the VIN numbers. She looked at it and checked the box - wagon.

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