Is there a future for the Mach-E?

[AZBill]

They're all skateboards, aren't they? AFAIK, nearly every EV since the EV-1 has been based on the General Motors skateboard design. Including the original Mach-E.

None of the GM Ultium models are on a skateboard. The batteries are mounted to the body.

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[Jimrpa]

Well, as long as we’re being delusional, might I suggest a revival of the Ford Ranchero as an EV? And a throwback EV Thunderbird. Yeah I’d be back for one of those.

I’m pretty sure J Mays is no longer with the company

 

[Jimrpa]

After the Mach-E launched, Darren Palmer stated they would be doing many things including tweaking the charging curve for people that didn't abuse the power. They never did, but improved the Lightning charging curve.

Whatever became of good, old Darren and all of the various promises he made?

 

[RickMachE]

Whatever became of good, old Darren and all of the various promises he made?

He retired on November 1st. I'm sure he knew where things were headed. Either he didn't want to fit in the new org structure, or they didn't think he fit. He dropped off the radar a good year ago.

 

[RickMachE]

Donna Dickson is also retired in July. I also had a contact in support, and he left also. A guy who worked on FordPass also retired in July.

 

[dan_meh]

The retirements feel like classic re-org. When you see the skunkworks and know you aren’t invited into the Long Beach Club*, it’s time to take your winnings and exit.

A giant multinational company isn’t a family, it’s a ruthless business. It has been told from The Bench in the 70’s that their prime directive is shareholder value.

Every single time you see a feel good message, and every time an executive has family picnic day, just remember that it exists to increase shareholder value. People who work for “the mission” or purchase for “the heritage” work for less and pay more. That’s not dark. It’s settled policy.

*So much drama in LBC!

 

[Jimrpa]

Businesses are to maximize “shareholder value”. Now, we can debate all day as to what constitutes “shareholder value”.

 

[dan_meh]

Businesses are to maximize “shareholder value”. Now, we can debate all day as to what constitutes “shareholder value”.

I’d go with “accrual of financial returns to shareholders,” which is the common definition. How you get there and your time horizon for returns on investment… those sorts of ideas are more debatable.

 

[Jimrpa]

I’d go with “accrual of financial returns to shareholders,” which is the common definition. How you get there and your time horizon for returns on investment… those sorts of ideas are more debatable.

What constituted “shareholder value” always sparked lively debate when I was getting my MBA (during/after the “greed is good” era )

 

[phil]

None of the GM Ultium models are on a skateboard. The batteries are mounted to the body.

Sure they are. The Ultium models are built on GM's BEV3 and BT1 platforms. Both platforms are skateboard designs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_BEV3_platform

 

[DeluxeStang]

Talking to people who are ford insiders familiar when Ford's upcoming products, the common consensus is the mach-e will get a second gen riding on CE1, also know as the universal electric platform.

This is a very flexible ev platform engineered and designed by the guy who led the engineering team for the model 3 and Y. He brought the best minds from Tesla over with him, paired with talented Ex-rivian and apple employees. The aero is being done by F1 experts.

The reason why this team exists is Ford needed an extremely radical approach to create smaller, affordable EVs that were profitable to produce, and could go toe to toe with the best affordable Chinese EVs in the world. The team is so radical that they exist on the other side of the country, and you can't even get in the building as a Ford employee unless they clear you, all to prevent corporate meddling. It's a startup in terms of speed, open mindedness, and cost, but with access to Ford's resources and manufacturing expertise.

 

[ChrisO]

Talking to people who are ford insiders familiar when Ford's upcoming products, the common consensus is the mach-e will get a second gen riding on CE1, also know as the universal electric platform.

This is a very flexible ev platform engineered and designed by the guy who led the engineering team for the model 3 and Y. He brought the best minds from Tesla over with him, paired with talented Ex-rivian and apple employees. The aero is being done by F1 experts.

The reason why this team exists is Ford needed an extremely radical approach to create smaller, affordable EVs that were profitable to produce, and could go toe to toe with the best affordable Chinese EVs in the world. The team is so radical that they exist on the other side of the country, and you can't even get in the building as a Ford employee unless they clear you, all to prevent corporate meddling. It's a startup in terms of speed, open mindedness, and cost, but with access to Ford's resources and manufacturing expertise.

Yes, I have definitely heard this story before. I hope it pays off for Ford.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Ford needed an extremely radical approach to create smaller, affordable EVs that were profitable to produce, and could go toe to toe with the best affordable Chinese EVs

They may succeed in profitable, but they’ll never be able to go toe to toe with BYD and gang unless going toe to toe means continuing the ban on Chinese EVs. Ford lacks the commitment to do what is necessary.

Additionally, waiting for the new platform before rolling out a next gen Mach-e isn’t doable unless they are planning on a second gen in the very first year the platform is introduced. The universal platform was already pushed back to 2028. As has been pointed out, there is nothing to discuss that is based on that platform yet. Asking the buying public to keep buying a 2019, or earlier, mme design until 2029 (or later) is untenable. Decisions like that are nothing more than asking for the car to be cancelled. Ford lacks commitment.

 

[AZBill]

Sure they are. The Ultium models are built on GM's BEV3 and BT1 platforms. Both platforms are skateboard designs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_BEV3_platform

But they are not mounted on traditional rolling frames. The batteries are mounted to the body, which has an integral frame in it, and the battery case provides structure (similar to Tesla). The motors, front and rear, are mounted on independent subframes attached to the body. There is no "skateboard" that the vehicle is mounted to.

 

[celestial_knight]

They may succeed in profitable, but they’ll never be able to go toe to toe with BYD and gang unless going toe to toe means continuing the ban on Chinese EVs. Ford lacks the commitment to do what is necessary.

Additionally, waiting for the new platform before rolling out a next gen Mach-e isn’t doable unless they are planning on a second gen in the very first year the platform is introduced. The universal platform was already pushed back to 2028. As has been pointed out, there is nothing to discuss that is based on that platform yet. Asking the buying public to keep buying a 2019, or earlier, mme design until 2029 (or later) is untenable. Decisions like that are nothing more than asking for the car to be cancelled. Ford lacks commitment.

If wishes were horses. Ford doesn't have the ability to do the state of the art dance with the Chinese. The CEO is a realist. He was shocked at the teardown of the (early) Mach E versus Tesla and Chinese vehicles

America is seriously hurting in manufacturing, making real things, and now in STEM human capital relative to China. This is a necessary strategy

The Mach E is already an excellent car in the American market, and sells well amongst its competitors. If only Americans would buy even more of them

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