50% of Ford’s dealers are still hesitant to sell electric cars and trucks

Only around half of Ford’s nearly 3,000 dealerships in the U.S. are willing to invest in selling electric vehicles like the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-e. The trepidation among dealers is due to the large costs associated with Ford’s certification program, including DC fast-chargers and staff training. These costs can amount to over $1 million, and have led to lawsuits from some dealers. The strain between Ford and its dealers appears to be growing as the company’s investment in EV manufacturing has been postponed amid a slowdown in sales of electric vehicles. These developments have led to a decrease in trust between Ford and its dealers, with the company ranking dead last in a recent survey. Only 46% of Ford dealers have expressed trust in the franchise. As Ford and its dealers grapple over the future of electric vehicles, the automotive industry is seeing a shift in focus towards hybrids and traditional combustion engines. This raises questions about the potential long-term implications for Ford and the industry as a whole, prompting stakeholders to consider what lies ahead in the automotive world.