How is that a me problem?  I buy product A that is supposed to do X, Y, and Z.  It doesn't do X properly, Y or all, and the app doesn't even show the option for Z.  How on earth is that a me problem?  WTH?  

I'm just confused why Ford invested all this money and time into developing an affordable EV platform if they're just gonna partner with other companies to build affordable EVs for them.    Maybe it's a case of Ford wanting to partner with another brand to minimize risk. If these affordable EVs turn out to be wildly successful, they'll bring CE1 based EVs to those markets a few years later?   I'm just struggling to make sense of this move. 

That's a you problem, not a Chinese electronic things problem.

From today's Autoline Daily:   Big news today in Europe, where Ford is joining forces with Renault to make two small electric passenger cars as well as exploring the development of a common platform for commercial vehicles. Ford will continue building EVs based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform at its own plant in Cologne, Germany. But Renault will build the EVs that will arrive in Ford’s European showrooms in 2028. This is actually being done through Ampere, the EV operations that Renault was going to spin off, but then changed its mind, cancelled the IPO and told Ampere to figure out how to slash the cost of making EVs by 40% in one generation. If Ampere can do that, and Ford is paying for half of the bills, then Renault and Ford will have EVs that can go head to head with the Chinese on cost.

For my wife, her take-home should be about the same in retirement (after insurance).  The only difference is she won't be putting the max in her retirement account anymore.  My plan is to work full-time for 3-ish more years then transition to part time.  The great thing is, I can work from anywhere, so we plan to travel quite a bit with our RV once our youngest goes to college in fall 2027.

Most Chinese electronic things I buy just suck.  Bluetooth is flaky, wifi drops regularly, the app sucks, etc.

Faced with the car shortage, Ford will sell models developed and built by Renault   The first two cars will be put on sale in 2028   From: Motor1 France    Face à la pénurie de voitures, Ford vendra des modèles développés et construits par Renault   From: Motor1 Brasil   Por que a Renault fabricará carros para a Ford na Europa?

'Of course, but what isn't clear is the US profit margin.  They don't report it separately but my gut says it's around 4% or less.  By contrast Ford Pro was 11%-13%.  Ford blue is typically around 6%.

The big shots at Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis figured out how to attract those people. Their newer vehicles are very "nice" indeed.

aka throw shit at the wall and see what sticks strategy.  I don’t see people buying smaller/cheaper unless they absolutely have to-they hold on their current vehicles longer till it’s economically unviable to do so.