DETROIT — About two-thirds of Ford Motor Co.’s U.S. vendor community has signed up for the automaker’s electric-vehicle certification program, CEO Jim Farley stated Monday.
Talking on the Automotive Information Congress in Detroit, Farley stated 1,920 retailers have agreed to comply with rigorous new gross sales requirements and make investments closely in EV chargers and coaching.
Of these, Farley stated, 1,659 selected the Licensed Elite observe, which requires investing as a lot as $1.2 million. He stated 261 sellers selected the Licensed standing, which requires as much as a $500,000 funding whereas capping their EV gross sales at 25 per 12 months.
Ford has about 3,000 dealerships within the U.S. The corporate stated those who did not join by final week’s deadline is not going to be allowed to promote EVs past 2023 however may have one other alternative to take action in 2025.
The announcement comes as opposition to this system grows. Final week, sellers in New York filed a lawsuit difficult this system as unlawful, whereas a separate group of sellers in Illinois filed a protest with the state’s motorcar board. Additionally final week, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Connecticut state lawmakers voiced their displeasure over what they are saying are extreme prices that probably violate state franchise legal guidelines.
Ford has constantly stated it believes this system doesn’t violate any state legal guidelines.