jpd80

It was interesting to watch the questions regarding the complexity of hoses for the cooling system, comparing it to the much simpler Tesla cooling system, suggesting that a lot of clamps and hoses could be eliminated, only to discover that the whole system is common from C2 hybrid/PHEV. It was actually cheaper for Ford to use an existing system/supplier than to build and make something unique for Mach E, remembering it started out as the E C-Max….

It was interesting to watch the questions regarding the complexity of hoses for the cooling system, comparing it to the much simpler Tesla cooling system, suggesting that a lot of clamps and hoses could be eliminated, only to discover that the whole system is common from C2 hybrid/PHEV. It was actually cheaper for Ford to use an existing system/supplier than to build and make something unique for Mach E, remembering it started out as the E C-Max….

Bullshit. If that was really the case being shut down due to covid for 3 months last year would have bankrupted at least one of them. Instead profits not only continued but actually grew as we came out of it. 

One of the biggest issues I have is that Ford thinks it can wait until the second half of the decade to address smaller EVs, it’s another example of a lumbering giant having no idea how quickly things have changed and then one day, suddenly realising that customers really want electric vehicles and having no capacity or resources to do so.
 
The Lightning is a case in point, Ford was going to ease into EVs with this variation of F150 architecture, modest production  while preparing its new BEV platform for the main assault. Now the plan changes because it has a monster hit on its hands, it’s quite humorous watching Ford all at sea handling massive interest in its products, these are mostly new buyers to the brand, how many years have we been waiting for this.

One thing that strikes me as odd with the Altman Z Score is that it treats all automotive debt as the same.
 
In Ford’s case, it’s different in that the majority of its debt is held by Ford Credit as customer financing that
earns Ford a tidy sum each quarter. 
 
 

Huh. (Checks driveway.) Found it!

It also doesn’t  take into account brand loyalty and future investments,  Rivian and Tesla and Lucid have a huge investment in sales and service where the legacy mfrs only have a small investment.   Look at F150 lightning vs Rivian vs Cybertruck.

They’ll need it if they want to pursue commercial fleet sales but that really depends on volume at MAP between Ranger and Bronco.
 
Personally I’d like to see a crew cab 6’ bed but doubt that will happen.

There was a photo of a 6G camo Regular cab running around Detroit a few months back. We may not see a production version in NA, but ROW Ranger is the #1 pickup in several other markets where the compete with reg. cab Amroks, Hiluxs LandTreks etc as well as ROW versions of small PU's sold here.

That 90% of F150 comment by Ford was dismissive and intended to trivialise the need for Ranger.
You could say the same thing about Escape or Edge vs Explorer, it’s just nonsense.
 
What the changes do is give product space between Maverick and Ranger, anyone who drives a mid sized truck
will immediately realise the difference between it and a full-size pickup. It’s basically filling out the existing vehicle.

As I predicted, 2”  increases in wheelbase and track, a nice improvement in usable space and stability.
V6 diesel confirmed for ROW markets, something Hilux will struggle to match….

That 90% of F150 comment by Ford was dismissive and intended to trivialise the need for Ranger.
You could say the same thing about Escape or Edge vs Explorer, it’s just nonsense.
 
What the changes do is give product space between Maverick and Ranger, anyone who drives a mid sized truck
will immediately realise the difference between it and a full-size pickup. It’s basically filling out the existing vehicle.

That 90% of F150 comment by Ford was dismissive and intended to trivialise the need for Ranger.
You could say the same thing about Escape or Edge vs Explorer, it’s just nonsense.
 
What the changes do is give product space between Maverick and Ranger, anyone who drives a mid sized truck
will immediately realise the difference between it and a full-size pickup. It’s basically filling out the existing vehicle.

I hope so! With a really capable BEV Ranger (Ranger Lightning?), Ford has a real good chance of stealing some of the Rivian R1T's thunder 😀 
 
BEV Ranger or BEV Maverick will be the next pickup truck my family buys for our business.

There will be differences between ROW and US version, steel bumpers for you guys would
completely change the look on the lower valance

Wtf is that weird gear selector for the automatic?

As I predicted, 2”  increases in wheelbase and track, a nice improvement in usable space and stability.
V6 diesel confirmed for ROW markets, something Hilux will struggle to match….

Correct. Ford went for a transitional Lightning because that gets them in the BEV  competition quicker while they play catch up in the background. Ford is stuck in fantasyland, thinking that Lightning won’t impact on ICE F150  production because those Lightning buyers are all coming from non-Ford brands but the truth is that those Lightning reservations stirred up a hornets nest, Ford was completely unprepared for the strong market response  and I think that completing those orders is beyond Ford’s  constrained abilities.
 
Sorry to be a nay sayer here but I see big issues with Ford following through on this in a timely fashion.

The concern I have  is 2022 production of Lightning was only slated to be 15,000. If there’s any chance of delays or problems with supplies of frames or batteries, then that could easily delay Lightning to 2023 and a slower increase in production…..
 
Maybe that’s overly pessimistic but I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop with continuing supplier issues,
Farley is painting a lot of blue sky here when Ford can’t get ICE production sorted yet……

Correct. Ford went for a transitional Lightning because that gets them in the BEV  competition quicker while they play catch up in the background. Ford is stuck in fantasyland, thinking that Lightning won’t impact on ICE F150  production because those Lightning buyers are all coming from non-Ford brands but the truth is that those Lightning reservations stirred up a hornets nest, Ford was completely unprepared for the strong market response  and I think that completing those orders is beyond Ford’s  constrained abilities.
 
Sorry to be a nay sayer here but I see big issues with Ford following through on this in a timely fashion.

The concern I have  is 2022 production of Lightning was only slated to be 15,000. If there’s any chance of delays or problems with supplies of frames or batteries, then that could easily delay Lightning to 2023 and a slower increase in production…..
 
Maybe that’s overly pessimistic but I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop with continuing supplier issues,
Farley is painting a lot of blue sky here when Ford can’t get ICE production sorted yet……

And I need the used Super Duty prices to stay high until my new truck comes in!  😄

The Canadians are offering significant money to upgrade an existing plant with an established supplier network, so there’s a lot to consider from that Angle. As we know, Ford is intending to use the VW MEB toolkit as the basis for up to five new BEVs but they were timed in the second half of the decade, I think that Ford needs them much sooner than they thought and wouldn’t be surprised to hear a significant change on that front given the massive pull ahead on plans in the next couple of years.
 
Either way, Ford is spending a crap ton of cash to avoid missing out and losing buyers, that I expect extends to all of Ford’s BEV plans but how quickly can Ford get its ducks in a row?

The issue is that people think it’s a cash discount when it’s actually a tax credit….big difference

No, only $5,000 of that $12,000 applies to the unionised USA build. Vehicles built in Mexico or Canada can qualify for up to $7,000.
 
Remember, these are tax credits so the government won’t cut you a check for that amount, it reduces your taxable income, so it’s considerably less.