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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: 2) by bob_super on Friday January 18 2019, @06:58PM
> I mean the biggest gripe I've heard is the new aluminum framed F150s are shit for what a truck is used for.
I would be glad to learn about actual practical examples of the Al frame being the problem in a truck.
The guys at Ford are much better material engineers than me, and I already know that the right Al grade will have strength similar to steel, at a lot less weight. Since i don't believe Ford would risk their cash cow with such a radical change without doing, redoing, and triple-checking their homework, I'd really like you to show me actual examples of the shittitude of the Al frame.
(disclaimer: I pretty much hate all of those pickups, steel or Al, unless I see them loaded to the brim with construction stuff, which is a tiny portion in my suburbs. Don't mistake me for a Ford fan)