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from the It's-electric.-Boogie-woogie-woogie! dept.
Ford Motor Co. confirmed plans to build a fully electric F-Series pickup, which industry observers called an unexpected move that protects the truck franchise against Tesla and other competitors.
“We’re going to be electrifying the F-Series — battery electric and hybrid,” Jim Farley, Ford president of global markets, said Wednesday during a presentation at the Deutsche Bank Global Automotive Conference in the MGM Grand in Detroit.
In framing the company’s redesign, Farley said a move toward all-electric and hybrid would “futureproof” the billion-dollar F-Series franchise, which he called a “global juggernaut.”
[...] Creating an alternative to the combustion engine is crucial if Ford plans to protect its pickup franchise.
“Tesla is talking about coming out with an electric pickup. And look what Tesla has done in the luxury segment. They’ve clobbered just about everybody,” McElroy said. “You can’t pooh-pooh that people won't be interested in an electric pickup. Rivian Automotive is coming out with an all-electric pickup. These are the crown jewels for Ford Motor Co., the F-Series. Ford has got to react to competitive threats.”
Ford recently announced it would exit the market for cars to focus on its pickups. This announcement is another sign of the shockwaves Tesla has sent throughout the automotive industry.
[Ford is likely also keeping a watchful eye on Workhorse. --Ed.]
(Score: 3, Informative) by Appalbarry on Friday January 18 2019, @12:57AM (6 children)
I've been watching for something to replace our 2008 Ford Ranger - the "small" pickup that's the size of an F150 thirty years ago. What I'm looking for a truck designed for people who actually need a truck, not some super hi-tech Tesla wannabe flashy rig. Around here there are hundreds of pickups that regularly do less than 100km per day. THIS is the real market for e-trucks.
Sadly I expect we'll see a bunch of electric F350s first.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Ethanol-fueled on Friday January 18 2019, @01:12AM (2 children)
Hell yeah, there's a market for the Ranger Edge model, the small-pickup equivalent of a mullet: business in the front, party in the back. Unlike the larger mall-crawler models, it's unpretentious, and 'dat mat allows you to simply spray the interior the fuck down after a dirty day.
As for the larger trucks, Fords (except maybe the Raptors) and Nissans are now what the daddy's girls buy. Smart men secure in their manhood buy Toyotas, the rest buy GMC.
(Score: 4, Informative) by dry on Friday January 18 2019, @02:36AM (1 child)
The thing with a Toyota truck is you can prove your manliness when you disassemble the engine to replace the starter.
At least Ford has finally figured out what to do about their crappy trannies and sparkplugs that need a $500 tool to remove, unless they blew out first.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 18 2019, @06:23AM
Yes you could prove your manhood that way, or you could just install an Anti-Aircraft gun on the truck-bed, and go do some Jihad.
(Score: 1) by Sulla on Friday January 18 2019, @01:17AM (2 children)
If you are looking for something not like a tesla then your best bet is hybrid/electric F250s and F350s. The construction industry is going to want the truck to stay cheap and clean with vinyl floors/seats, limited electric crap that would distract their employees, and repair-ability that won't require a stealership.
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Friday January 18 2019, @01:32AM (1 child)
Now this is true, and why Fords are the girliest trucks of all the American brands. Their dash info is simple and isn't trying to be a 747 cockpit.
False. "American" brands all have access to cheaper and more quickly available parts, and simplicity isn't always a bad thing when you gotta fix it. Nobody wants to drop the engine just to be able to replace spark plugs.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by toddestan on Friday January 18 2019, @03:42AM
Actually I wouldn't mind a dash like a 747 cockpit. The cockpit of a 747 is all business, it's just that you've got a lot controls, dials, gauges, displays, etc. to operate a 747.
What I don't want is some cheesy dashboard that looks like a 1990's Aiwa mini-system or a 1337 gamerz laptop, but sadly that seems to be the in thing now.