Harley Lover

When do you think that was the case for Lincoln?

Where did I say that?

Lincoln's new president and her thoughts about Lincoln going forward: Lincoln as an EV brand? On one hand: On the other hand:

Meanwhile in China: TWO LARGE COAL POWER PLANTS PER WEEK. https://energyandcleanair.org/publication/china-permits-two-new-coal-power-plants-per-week-in-2022/#:~:text=Of the projects permitted in,from 40 GW in 2021.

Not questioning your accuracy, but tell us more... is there an article somewhere with details, or... ?

Posted already:

Sounds like Level 3 it is for now. So much for that driverless future someone around here has been continuously touting: https://www.autonews.com/mobility-report/ford-withdraws-petition-deploy-self-driving-vehicles

I think the relationship between the OEMs (not just Ford) and the UAW is going to be a shitshow. The newly elected president of the UAW is sounding a very antagonistic tone towards the OEMs, saying membership should ready for "war" against the "one and only true enemy". Fun times coming: https://www.autonews.com/executives/uaw-president-shawn-fain-prepares-war-against-corporations

Mullets bow their heads in a moment of silence.

Farley stated inferentially in the 'Fireside Chat' that the purpose of the additional production capacity for EVs is not to maintain market share, but to grow market share. He's also indicated previously and again here that the product(s) from BOC will be quite different from the current Lightning. It all sounds like Farley intends to continue 'classic' Lightning production in Michigan (perhaps for Ford Pro) and plans to grow sales and market share with BOC. Ford will build ICE F Series as long as the market exists and the government allows. It follows that the added Lightning capacity coming later this year isn't planned for short term manufacturing, but planned for continued future output. Farley has also given hints about T3 styling with comments in the Fireside Chat about what Ford have learned about improving range with better aero, etc.. It's there to be read... and dovetails with ExplorerDude's comments.

All the opinionaters here should pay attention to this post; he knows of which he speaks.

Now that Ford are breaking out results for Ford Blue, EVs, and Ford Pro, interesting info is coming to light: Ford's ability to essentially 'internally finance' its EV ambitions is very important, especially right now. There is an article out today explaining how the failure of SVB in California is putting the squeeze on EV startups because its failure eliminated a source of capital for those ventures - a market in which capital sourcing was/continues to atrophy. https://www.autonews.com/automakers-suppliers/fords-ev-losses-2-billion-2022-3-billion-expected-2023?utm_source=breaking-news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20230323&utm_content=hero-headline

That front end doesn't warm me up. If this weren't a Ford and therefore I am predisposed to like it, the front end would bother me.

I think the Sport name is official for the 'fastback' model.

In the AN article, they mention the second model will carry the Sport moniker: https://europe.autonews.com/cars-concepts/ford-explorer-ev-beats-key-rivals-key-segment

Need to see more non-PR pics:

I had a recent business trip in Kentucky, part of which involved driving along I-65 between Bowling Green and Louisville. I had forgotten the battery plant site is along this path, and when I first saw it, was surprised at how large it appears to be. I've seen the SKC/Ford battery plant in Georgia, and this seems much larger. I was able to snap off a couple of pics to share with the group. I shot these on the move, so not the greatest, but at least photographic evidence of solid progress on this site:

"Tell her where I live" LOL

"That's Hedley!!" Deep movie reference

Do you live in the Philippines, Bangledesh, or Haiti or ...? Top 10 most densely populated cities: Manila, Philippines (119,600/mi2) Pateros, Philippines (94,400/mi2) Mandaluyong, Philippines (90,460/mi2) Baghdad, Iraq (85,140/mi2) Mumbai, India (83,660/mi2) Dhaka, Bangladesh (75,290/mi2) Caloocan, Philippines (72,490/mi2) Port-au-Prince, Haiti (70,950/mi2) Bnei Brak, Israel (70,810/mi2) Levallois-Perret, France (68,460/mi2)

This is not Ford's plan (at least not the "replacing" part). Farley implied as much in his 'fireside chat'.

'Fireside chat' part 3. Observations from Farley about how engineering within Ford has been evolved for a new era with EV design: Farley has a very interesting take on how Ford had to change in its approach. It's not finger pointing, it's recognized 100 years of having done things a certain way because institutionally most of those approaches had been learned over decades (but had to be changed for the EV era): Lastly, Farley revealed where Ford are in their design generations for EVs and the upgrading of their EV architecture in each generation:

More from the 'fireside chat'. Farley looks at Blue as a carefully constructed portfolio of products/services: I bolded a comment above: "They are segments that probably won't go electric immediately". In the context of F150, I think this is a very important comment. I think Farley seems to be implying that Ford recognize that there is a tremendous amount of ongoing revenue potential in the ICE F150, and Ford will not walk away from that any time soon. As upcoming quotes will indicate, Farley sees incremental growth and market share increase from BOC (and a new/different customer to Ford). Expectations for future sales and the composition of those sales (and market growth):

A lot to unpack from the 'fireside chat', most of which has not been commented on here. Points of interest: Farley believes the Direct Sales Model (Tesla) will be forced to change as a critical mass of their vehicles are on the road in a market: At the same time, Farley reiterates that Ford must move closer to the direct model via its dealers:

Louisville closure extended to March 6, 4th consecutive week; good news is that software issue with instrument cluster is solved: https://www.autonews.com/automakers-suppliers/ford-extends-downtime-louisville-assembly-until-march-6?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20230224&utm_content=article3-headline