Ford dealers that want to continue selling EVs, must decide by October 31.
In an ultimatum from a dealers conference in Las Vegas, CEO Jim Farley outlined the plans and stipulations necessary for specific Ford dealers to continue to sell EVs. It’s not cheap, either, requiring thousands of dollars of upgrades, and new sales stipulations that dealers hadn’t been beholden to before.
To sell EVs, dealers must enroll in one of two programs, named Model E Certified, or Model E Elite Certified. The standard Model E certification requires dealerships to install a DC fast charger (which would be available for public use). Whereas, the Model E Elite certification requires three DC fast chargers, at least one of them available for public use. Each level of certification would limit the amount of EVs each dealer could sell, too. The upgrades necessary to support DC fast charging could cost thousands, if not millions, depending on the level of desired Model E certification.
According to InsideEVs, if the dealers do not want to spring for Model E certification, it must discontinue selling EVs by January 1, 2024. If the dealer doesn’t decide if it wants to enroll in the Model E programs, another window will open up in 2025, with the opportunity to sell by 2027. Yikes.
Most interesting of all is that Ford is creating a no-haggle price experience for EV sales. EVs will still be set by the dealer, but the purchase, pricing, and nearly everything else can be done at home.
The future is looking very different for dealers and Ford buyers alike. Any dealer not willing to make infrastructure changes may find themselves left behind with Ford’s shift to electrification.
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