Ford Movements
Hot off the Press News has Ford investing big money in EV production. All up, Ford and a South Korean supplier will spend $11.4 billion US on Ford’s EV production and expansion. Ford hopes this spend will enable them to produce more than one million EVs per year in the second half of this decade. The buzz words used in new and future cars include the term electric vehicles or EVs. Established automakers like Ford are racing to try and close the gap on Tesla’s EV lead. As you may be aware, Tesla produces a range of EVs, and Tesla are currently on the way to selling more than 800,000 electric cars this year. Tesla is currently the most valuable automaker in the world, with a market capitalization of nearly $800 billion US. Ford’s market value is $56 billion US.
Ford F-150 Lightening
Ford’s big spend will be its 2nd biggest spend in its history. Under the climate change banner and the Biden government, this latest US multibillion-dollar move to quickly transfer production plants to EV production is seen as a fast track phasing out of gasoline-powered cars and trucks as part of the global push to combat climate change. I won’t debate the science here.
Ford is to build 2 battery plants in Kentucky and 1 in Tennessee under the joint venture with its main battery cell supplier, SK Innovation of South Korea. In addition, Ford will build an assembly plant at the Tennessee location to churn out EV trucks. Ford will invest $7 billion and SK Innovation $4.4 billion, the companies have said. Ford expects electric vehicle models to make up 40% of their vehicle production by 2030. That’s only a little over 8 years away!
Ford’s new truck plant and battery factory in Tennessee is likely to be the place that will produce a new battery-powered Ford F-Series pickup truck, this following the previously announced F-150 Lightning pick up truck. I have to say that the F-150 Lightening is an impressive beast! Ford has said a mix of both the public and businesses had already placed 150,000 reservations for purchasing the F-150 Lightning.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Also this year, Ford began selling the Mustang Mach-E, which has taken a sizable market share from Tesla. Ford also plans to add an EV delivery van into the mix by the end of the year. Then, in early 2022, the electric F-150 Lightning will roll out of their showrooms and silently onto the tarmac.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Mr. Jim Farley, Ford Motor’s president and CEO, has recently said that making electrical vehicles affordable should be among the top priorities for automakers, so that the average vehicle-buyer can purchase one. This is good news, as a new EV is well out of most people’s budget.
He also made a couple of rather poignant comments: one on a key issue on questioning how EV production will impact labour/jobs (a subject rather close to home with our relatively recent Ford and Holden closures), and the other on materials. So, apparently, it costs 30% less to manufacture the Ford electrical vehicles. This will definitely affect production rates and employment long term. Then there is also the issue of battery supply and the rare minerals (i.e., lithium, cobalt) needed to power them, said Farley. Mr Farley stated, “We have to bring battery production here, but the supply chain has to go all the way to the mines. That’s where the real cost is, and people in the U.S. don’t want mining in their neighbourhoods. So, are we going to import lithium and pull cobalt from nation-states that have child labour and all sorts of corruption, or are we going to get serious about mining? … We have to solve these things and we don’t have much time.”
Here in Australia, we haven’t jumped on the EV wagon just yet, and if we are going too, then there is so much infrastructure that will be needed to be implemented before owning an EV becomes a viable option for people like me. Even the thought of the costs involved in getting the right infrastructure is eyewatering, and, like most impatient home renovators and idealistic politicians, the job must be done yesterday! The hard working folk pay for it, of course!
There seems little patience on offer by many governments and climate change activists for making the move to EVs (and other new transportation technology like an EV repower on your existing car) a more balanced and delicate affair. For now, owning an EV is very much for the elite, so Farley is on the right track when he says that the cost of EV ownership must be addressed very quickly.
Ford still has many plants throughout the U.S. However, like other big automotive manufacturers, Ford also has locations right around the world. Ford has many production plants scattered about the globe, and these include assembly plants, engine plants, forging plants, stamping plants and transmission plants. Here, in Australia, Ford still has special engine production and stamping plants.
On a more local note, Ford has a new feature called ‘FordPass’ offered on all their new models sold in Australia. FordPass has a few systems worthy of a mention that include:
Remote Start+, where minutes before leaving, you can start your connected vehicle’s engine from your mobile device in order to heat or cool the cabin using the last known climate control setting.
Vehicle Status, where you can check key variables such as fuel level and your odometer on the FordPass App to help plan your journey.
Remote Lock/Unlock, where, conveniently, you can use your mobile device to make sure the car doors are locked or unlocked without being anywhere near your vehicle. If only it could do that for my house front door!
Vehicle Locator, where you can check your vehicle’s exact location in the FordPass App, which is particularly useful if you share your vehicle with one or more members of your household or if you have forgotten where you parked it. However, if you’ve forgotten where you’ve parked it, then maybe you better get breath tested!
Vehicle Health Alerts, where the FordPass App sends Vehicle Health Alerts directly to your mobile device, pre-empting service needs and general maintenance such as low washer fluid.
Live Traffic, where this feature enhances your SYNC 3 Navigation system by delivering up-to-date traffic updates. This technology allows you to adjust your recommended route based on the traffic conditions, helping you to arrive more relaxed and on time.
Ford Ranger Special Ediiton
In this second half of 2021, Ford Australia offer a nice broad range of vehicles that include the Puma, Escape and Everest SUVs; the Ford Focus car; the Ford Ranger Ute; the Transit Commercial range that has custom vehicles, vans, buses and cab-chassis models; the Ford Performance range that includes the Fiesta and Focus ST, the Focus ST-3, the Ranger Raptor, the Mustang and Mustang Mach-1; and the Special Edition Rangers and Everests.
It is good to see Ford keeping pace with any EV and hybrid automotive technology and movements; though at what societal and environmental cost? New Ford vehicles are good, and Ford offers a very complete package for all new vehicles in the Ford range. Once you’ve driven a Ford, its not so easy to change out of the brand come new car buying territory.
Level 2, 9 Help Street