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The transition to EVs is a big deal, not just for automakers but for their dealers. Training, product marketing, and service are all huge hurdles for dealers to overcome in order to effectively sell and support electric vehicles. General Motors offered to buy out Buick dealers who were unwilling to commit time and, more importantly, money. Ford has laid out similar requirements to its dealers, asking for a financial investment of more than $1 million in some cases, and CEO Jim Farley recently touted the program’s success.
In Automotive News Congress in Detroit, The Blue Oval’s CEO said about two-thirds of its dealer network has signed on to become Ford Model E-certified. Some dealers can invest up to $1.2 million to be able to sell EVs. The automaker’s goal of becoming zero-emissions and its significant investment in new battery and EV tech likely means unwilling dealers won’t have many new models to sell each year outside of trucks and commercial vehicles. .
All this comes shortly after Ford’s EV sales figures landed it in the number-two spot in the United States sales rankings. Only Tesla has outsold Ford, and its lead remains strong. New models and legacy automakers jumping into the game are quickly outpacing Tesla. It’s also worth noting that Ford only narrowly edges out the Korean automaker for second place, so competition in the EV segments is quickly becoming fierce.
[Image: FotograFFF via Shutterstock]
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