Articles tagged with "Ford"
Ford & GM Jump On Loophole To Use $7,500 EV Tax Credit Through End Of 2025 - CleanTechnica
The article discusses a significant development regarding the US electric vehicle (EV) tax credit, which offers up to $7,500 for new EV buyers but was set to expire after September 30, 2023. The IRS clarified that buyers who have a “binding written contract” and make an initial payment by that date remain eligible for the credit, effectively extending its benefits. Ford and General Motors (GM) have leveraged a loophole by purchasing vehicles themselves, separate from their dealer networks, allowing dealers to offer EV leases at reduced prices using the tax credit. This arrangement enables consumers to access attractive lease deals through the end of 2025, potentially accelerating EV adoption by introducing more drivers to electric cars via short-term leases that quickly feed into the used EV market. The article notes that while this loophole benefits Ford and GM, it is unclear if other automakers like Hyundai, Kia, Volkswagen, Volvo, Honda, or Toyota have found similar ways to capitalize on the tax credit extension. Tesla,
energyelectric-vehiclesEV-tax-creditFordGMclean-energysustainable-transportationFord Is Doing What Has To Be Done — Leading On EVs And Innovating Are Imperative - CleanTechnica
Ford recently unveiled a major new electric vehicle (EV) strategy centered on the Ford Universal EV Platform, signaling a significant investment in advanced manufacturing, EV batteries, and a new vehicle platform based in Kentucky and Michigan. The company aims to produce affordable, competitive EVs, drawing a parallel to its historic Model T as a transformative, accessible vehicle. This bold move reflects Ford’s recognition of the rapidly evolving EV market, particularly influenced by advancements and cost reductions seen in China and Europe, and the inevitability that EVs will become cheaper than gasoline vehicles in the near future. The article highlights that unlike many legacy automakers who have been hesitant to fully embrace EVs due to existing investments in internal combustion technologies and infrastructure, Ford is proactively positioning itself to lead the US market. This strategy likely factors in potential political risks, such as the possible repeal of EV subsidies under a Republican administration, but underscores Ford’s conviction that EVs represent the future of the automotive industry. The announcement is portrayed as one of Ford’s
energyelectric-vehiclesEV-batteriesFordclean-energysustainable-transportationautomotive-innovationTechCrunch Mobility: Ford’s big bet
Ford announced a $2 billion investment to convert its Louisville Assembly Plant into a facility for producing a new generation of affordable electric vehicles (EVs), starting with a midsize pickup truck priced around $30,000, expected to launch in 2027. CEO Jim Farley emphasized the risks involved, noting that the project is a significant bet involving many new approaches. Ford developed a novel three-pronged assembly line using increased automation and unicastings, departing from its traditional manufacturing methods to build EVs more efficiently and maintain profit margins. This $5 billion experiment, including a $3 billion investment in a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery factory, aims to keep jobs in the U.S. amid challenges like tariffs, slower EV demand, and competition from China. However, the new manufacturing technique is vehicle-specific and cannot be easily applied to other Ford factories. The article also briefly covers other mobility sector news: rental car startup Kyte has effectively ceased operations after selling its customer list to peer-to
energyelectric-vehiclesautomotive-manufacturingbattery-factoryautomationEV-productionFordCostco, Ford, And GM Apply Streisand Effect To Electric Vehicles
The recent passage of the federal "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBA) threatens to end the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles (EVs) as of September 30, a move expected to dampen EV sales momentum in the US. However, this legislative action has inadvertently amplified public interest in EVs, exemplifying the Streisand effect—where attempts to suppress information instead generate widespread attention. Costco, leveraging its 50 million members, has actively promoted awareness of the expiring tax credit and bolstered its EV offerings through its Costco Auto service, which provides a hassle-free car buying experience including incentives that stack with manufacturer rebates and the federal credit until the deadline. Costco’s recent initiatives include new member-only incentives for GM and Volvo EVs and expanded EV buyer guides on its marketplace. Meanwhile, automakers Ford and General Motors (GM) are doubling down on their EV strategies despite the setback posed by the tax credit’s elimination. Both companies initially targeted higher-end electric
electric-vehiclesEV-tax-creditvehicle-electrificationFordGeneral-MotorsCostcozero-emission-mobilityFord to reveal more about its new low-cost electric vehicles on August 11
Ford plans to reveal more details about its upcoming low-cost electric vehicles (EVs) at an event in Kentucky on August 11, 2025. CEO Jim Farley described this announcement as a “Model T moment” for the company, signaling a significant shift toward affordable EVs. This comes amid financial challenges for Ford’s EV division, which reported a $1.3 billion loss in Q2 2025, alongside declining sales of its current EV models, the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E. The low-cost EV initiative, led by former Tesla executive Alan Clarke and a team of industry talent, was first disclosed in early 2024. Ford has revealed that the first vehicle on this new platform will be a mid-size pickup truck expected in 2027, with plans to produce multiple vehicle styles targeting both retail and commercial markets. These vehicles will also offer “personalized digital experiences.” While the 2027 timeline is relatively distant, Ford aims to address the current lack of
energyelectric-vehiclesFordlow-cost-EVautomotive-technologysustainable-transportationEV-marketFord Plans To Bring Affordable EVs To Market - CleanTechnica
At a July 2025 conference in Seattle, Ford's chief sustainability officer Bob Holycross highlighted the company's goal to offer more affordable electric vehicles (EVs), noting that the base Mustang Mach-E starts at $37,995. However, this price primarily applies to Ford employees and select partners through the A/X/Z Plan, which is not available to the general public. Despite some marketing suggesting broader availability of these prices, the program is limited, reflecting ongoing challenges in communicating EV affordability amid complex pricing and incentive structures. The broader EV market shows promising trends, with Bloomberg reporting a 7.4% decline in average EV transaction prices since early 2023, though EVs still cost about $11,000 more than comparable gasoline vehicles on average. Ford aims to address affordability by expanding hybrid options and developing extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) that use gasoline engines to recharge batteries, a technology popular in China for its long combined range. Holycross emphasized the importance of focusing on "zero
energyelectric-vehiclesEV-affordabilityFordbattery-electric-vehicleshybrid-technologysustainable-transportationThe electric Hummer is almost outselling the F-150 Lightning
In the second quarter of 2025, General Motors (GM) nearly matched Ford’s F-150 Lightning sales in the U.S. with 4,508 electric Hummer trucks and SUVs sold, despite the Hummer’s significantly higher price. This contributed to a strong quarter for GM’s electric vehicle (EV) lineup, which saw a 111% increase in EV sales year-over-year, including models like the electric Equinox, Silverado, Blazer EV, Escalade IQ, and GMC Sierra. GM’s commercial EV division, BrightDrop, also boosted sales with 1,318 electric vans sold, up from 490 the previous year. The growth was partly due to many of these models being new or not available in the same quarter of the previous year, contrasting with the broader U.S. EV market where many automakers experienced declines. Ford, by comparison, faced a 31% drop in U.S. EV sales in Q2 2025, with significant declines in the
electric-vehiclesEV-salesautomotive-industryGeneral-MotorsFordelectric-trucksenergy-transitionFord EV sales fall 31% while hybrids rise
Ford experienced a significant 31% decline in U.S. electric vehicle (EV) sales in the first half of 2025, driven primarily by a sharp drop in E-Transit van sales and waning demand for the F-150 Lightning. Specifically, Ford sold just 38,988 EVs by mid-year, marking a nearly 12% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. The Mustang Mach-E also saw a nearly 20% year-over-year sales decline in the second quarter, while F-150 Lightning sales fell by 26%. The E-Transit van sales plunged from 3,410 units in Q2 2024 to only 418 in Q2 2025, attributed to larger fleet orders occurring earlier in the year. Despite these EV setbacks, Ford's overall sales increased, partly due to automotive tariffs that initially boosted demand as buyers anticipated price hikes. Conversely, Ford's hybrid vehicle sales surged by more than 23% compared to the previous
electric-vehiclesEV-saleshybrid-vehiclesFordautomotive-industryenergy-transitionelectric-trucksFord Battery Factory In Michigan Fights For Survival - CleanTechnica
The article discusses the challenges facing Ford’s new battery factory in Marshall, Michigan, amid shifting political dynamics in the U.S. auto industry. Michigan, long considered the heart of American automotive manufacturing, is central to the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, with battery factories crucial for producing affordable EVs and sustaining thousands of jobs. The Biden administration’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentivized domestic battery manufacturing through financial rewards rather than mandates, aiming to encourage companies like Ford to build critical EV infrastructure. However, despite adopting a strategy traditionally favored by conservatives—using incentives rather than mandates—the IRA faced fierce Republican opposition, especially after they regained control of Congress. Ford’s Marshall factory, about 60% complete and already producing prototype lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells, is at risk due to potential repeal of IRA incentives and growing anti-China sentiment within the Republican Party. The factory’s partnership with CATL, a leading Chinese battery manufacturer, has sparked political concerns. To address this,
energybattery-manufacturingelectric-vehiclesFordMichiganInflation-Reduction-ActLFP-cellsThe Ford Skunkworks Affordable EV Will Look Like...What?
The article discusses Ford’s ongoing efforts to develop an affordable electric vehicle (EV) for the U.S. market, inspired by the success of compact, low-cost EVs in China. Ford has been hinting at this project for several years through its “Model e” division, a secretive “skunkworks” team modeled after Lockheed Martin’s innovative approach. This division was established to create a mission-driven EV that can compete directly with Chinese automakers, leveraging Ford’s extensive experience and manufacturing footprint in China, including facilities like the Nanjing Test Center and a “MakerSpace” incubator. A key technical focus for Ford’s affordable EV is the adoption of lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, supplied by Chinese battery maker CATL. LFP batteries are a newer variant of lithium-ion technology that offer cost advantages but historically suffered from lower performance and range, which contributed to “range anxiety” among consumers. However, improvements in LFP technology have made it a viable
energyelectric-vehicleslithium-iron-phosphate-batteriesFordaffordable-EVbattery-technologyautomotive-innovationGM, Ford Tease New Game Changing LMR EV Batteries … But Where Is Waldo?
energyEV-batterieslithium-manganesematerials-scienceautomotive-technologyTeslaFordFord hikes Mustang Mach-E price due to Trump’s tariffs
energyelectric-vehiclesMustang-Mach-Etariffsautomotive-industryEV-pricingFord