Aren’t they all supposed to be game changers? Ford is risking a lot of capital on this venture, after already losing vast sums of money on EVs
Electric Ford ‘Fiesta’: game-changing affordable EV due 2026
A new range of smaller and more affordable electric Fords will be spawned from an upcoming ‘skunkworks’ architecture on which the firm aims to produce the world’s most efficient electric cars.
This new platform, the development of which is being led by a former Tesla engineer, could underpin spiritual successors to the Fiesta and Focus and a replacement for the Puma, as well as opening up the potential for other small cars from Ford.
The architecture programme is still in the engineering stages, yet it is the first concrete sign that Ford sees a way back to offering a whole suite of more affordable models underneath the new Explorer, Capri and Mustang Mach-E SUVs in addition to the Puma.
“We are spending a decent amount of time at the corporate level talking about affordability,” Marin Gjaja, chief operating officer of Ford’s Model E division, told Autocar recently.
“We know we need to do it and it’s a muscle we need to build up over time.
“If you look at our line-up globally, at this point we don’t really have much in the affordable segment. The key for us is to be affordable, differentiated and profitable. For too long we stayed in the affordable segment, either at break-even or losing money.
Affordable seems to mean tiny with little range. And, come on, it’s a Ford. Would you trust a Ford other than a truck? They keep trying to push this stuff on consumers, even though consumers are not clamoring for them. When does it end?
AH. The latest thing Ford will lose a billion dollars on before cancelling it.
As long as it is privately developed, and consumers have a free choice as to what vehicles to buy, I have absolutely no objections.
IF Ford were a private company, I would agree. But they are not. They are a publicly traded entity and their R&D budget could have been distributed to shareholders as dividends. At the very least, FORD executives have a legal and moral responsibility to invest their R&D into projects that will have a net gain for shareholders, not a predictable billion dollar loss. Malinvestment is a violation of SEC regulations and you are already paying (taxes) for regulators and watchdogs to prevent massive companies from squandering their wealth. The trend so far has been that squandering corporate wealth in the pursuit of left agenda is “good”, because the board members all went to the right schools and are connected to each other. What Trump is doing to government, defunding the left, is a task that is still awaiting the corporate, academic, and media towers. The first step is recognizing that those CEOs are not playing with their own money. They are thieves, stealing billions from shareholders just to get another glass plaque for their fireplace mantle as a monument to their corporate virtue.
As an aside: have you seen the new electric Mustangs? About the size and shape of a Honda civic. How could ANY executive at Ford destroy such a brand that made them so much money? Even the commercials had to dub in the “Vroom” sound of an IC engine revving up because no one wants a golf cart sized Mustang.
So you object to the branding?
Found On Road Dead
What is Mr Musk and Don’s position on EVs that compete with Elon’s Tesla (the source of much of his wealth)? BTW, Tesla US sales dipped last year for the first time ever.
Should Ford manufacture the EVs in China to keep the costs down?
The smallest Tesla’s list at about $30,000, with a $7500 federal “global warming” subsidy + various state subsidies. Will DOGE kill the subsidies? They might, now that BILLIONS in federal subsidies kept Tesla afloat and made them the industry leader. Kill the subsidies and kill the competitors!! These subsidies were part of the global warming ‘scam’ redistributing BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars to a single company, creating the world’s richest man!!
Tesla also sells solar roofs and Powerwall battery packs to combat the ‘scam’ of global warming and customers receive subsidies for these. Will Trump kill all these ‘scam’ subsidies?