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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: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 18 2019, @06:29PM (2 children)
Well, SUVs are just big, fat cars really. Sure, many people don't need an SUV really either, and that's another question to ask. Trucks on the other hand are even more clearly a weird choise to drive around, when there's so very clear lack of need for it.
I just don't understand why genpop would like to drive a truck, when all they need to move is groceries and suitcases 99% of the time. Not to mention that it is an open space back there, so easier for anyone to
steal the cargo. And frankly, most of the time i've seen people just using it as garbage can for McDonald's wrappers and such.
There were some real nice station wagons in the 60's and 70's, why did they dissapear from the states?
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Friday January 18 2019, @06:51PM (1 child)
Last sentence of the comment you're replying to. Read it again.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 18 2019, @09:23PM
That sentense does not matter, because i am questioning the people buying the damn things, i'm not questioning the corporate reason.