Ford Announces New Company, Model E, what's your thoughts?

[oosik]

Asked one of the big local Ford dealerships - "Are you prepared to service the EV's". Answer - "NO, and I currently don't sell any either". ????? Life goes on...........

 

[Hay Dude]

A simple example is a buffet vs. a short-order grill.
The buffet owner loses income if he doesn't fix enough and throws out food when he cooks too much.
In the end, the consumer pays for his errors if he stays in business.

Point being, this should make cars cheaper for the customer assuming some of the savings is passed along.

Thats what they call a ”big IF”

 

[Hay Dude]

I think the battery thing is mostly a trendy gimmick and I don't understand the manufacturers so eagerly signing up for this. Maybe there's huge tax credits or some kind of "offset" that they can apply to their CAFE standards.
Any "environmentalist" that's not consumed with the hype knows the environmental impact of these batteries, both in production and long term.

True. Also gotta wonder where the UAW fits in all this and what they stand to gain? Where do all the EV rebates go? Does some or a lot go to the UAW?

 

[crashz]

Point being, this should make cars cheaper for the customer assuming some of the savings is passed along.

Key word is "should". In reality it will be more profitable for Ford, offer more consistent revenue, and likely will be much more difficult to obtain parts and service. It will be sold as a convivence to the customer and in reality, the customer is doing more work for less service. Similar to the express self-checkout lines at stores.

I'm all for changing the dealer experience, but the Carvana way is a turn-off.

 

[ovrszd]

I'm all for changing the dealer experience, but the Carvana way is a turn-off.

As things technologically advance the "need" for dealerships grows.

For example. If you have a newer vehicle that uses a key fob rather than a steel key, try losing the Key Fob and replacing it.

 

[oosik]

The new Key fob's. Yes - I've heard they are VERY expensive. The second fob that came with the Taco Wagon is securely ferreted away.

 

[Cub 7275]

Ford Motor has announced that they have spilt off into a new company, called Ford Model E. Many have suspected that with the purchase of the Michigan Central Station, this was the direction they were going. What's your thoughts about this? Do you think that other OEMs will follow suit and what role do you think the dealerships will still have in this new way of doing business?

These guys never mention the "agency" method of car sales. The Mfg sells direct and the customer picks a dealer where the car is delivered and serviced, etc. Look it up for more details. IIRC VW was supposed to be doing it for the ID4 (except in the US). I don't know or care if they implemented it.

What stood out from the particular article I read about the agency method (and unfortunately not limited to the agency method) was that the #%*! MBAs were already rubbing their hands together in anticipation of selling "upgrades", basically software tweaks, like a few more HP, for a monthly recurring fee that was shared with the dealer. Since most new cars will have OTA updates the manufacturers can simply deactivate the upgrade if you don't pay and pay and pay. Just how far will they go with that? Monetize everything!

I see the financial side...when the EV thing dosen't work out, the losses don't extend to the mothership.

Smart of Ford actually.

Or the other way around. Works either way.

 

[ovrszd]

The new Key fob's. Yes - I've heard they are VERY expensive. The second fob that came with the Taco Wagon is securely ferreted away.

The cost of the fob is secondary. The Pain In the Butt is your vehicle has to go to the dealership to program the new FOB. Without a FOB to drive the vehicle, it has to be towed...... Those two things make it very costly.

 

[Rustyiron]

I want to know who invents this chit and whose complaint are they fixing?
I never found it difficult to put the key in the ignition (if it hasn't been there for months or years) and turn it.

 

[tradosaurus]

Why can't Ford still have service centers regardless whether there is a middle man in the new car purchase?