Ford CEO cautions against turning electric car switch into a political issue

author: FutureCar Staff    

The CEO of Ford has acknowledged the divisive nature of the transition to electric cars, describing it as a "political football". Many major car brands have committed to phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles in favor of electric cars. Ford has announced its plan to make all cars sold in Europe electric by 2030 and invest $1 billion in transforming a Cologne plant into its first European EV facility. Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor, has discussed the challenges involved in embracing electric vehicles.

During a speech, Farley expressed his disappointment that EVs have become a political issue, stating, "I drove an F-150 with my son across the western US this summer and I met so many people who love absolutely their EVs, like [F-150 EV] Lightning. Think about it." He also praised Tesla for successfully prioritizing electric vehicles and becoming profitable. Ford and Tesla are collaborating to provide Ford customers with access to the Tesla Supercharger network, which boasts over 12,000 charging stations across the US. Farley assured customers that they would be impressed by the next generation of Ford models, including both EVs and internal combustion vehicles.

In contrast, Donald Trump has been critical of electric cars, claiming they are costing jobs. He stated, "Now they want to go all electric and put you all out of business. You know that right?" The Republican party has also criticized electric cars, using the phrase "go woke, go broke" to suggest that Democrats are pushing for their adoption. However, the same post highlighted how California's request for residents to avoid charging EVs in order to prevent blackouts resulted in financial difficulties for some individuals.

In April, President Biden announced ambitious commitments to support the transition to EVs, both publicly and privately. One of his key goals is to have 50% of all new vehicle sales be electric by the end of the decade. In a show of support for the United Auto Workers, Biden became the first US President to visit a UAW picket line and advocate for improved working conditions.

FutureCar Staff