Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley expressed growing optimism about the automaker’s ability to produce electric vehicles (EVs) profitably in the U.S., thanks to supportive government policies, reports 阿克西奥斯. This development is crucial as Ford, the second-largest EV brand in the U.S., navigates the competitive landscape dominated by Tesla.

通过政府支持增强信心

法利在阿斯彭思想节（Aspen Ideas Festival）上接受阿克索斯（Axios）采访时强调了《通货膨胀削减法案》（IRA）和其他政府措施的影响。IRA提供了大量激励措施，包括为购买电动汽车提供高达$7,500的消费者税收抵免，以及为国内电动汽车和电池生产提供数十亿美元的激励。这些政策旨在应对来自中国电动汽车制造商的低成本竞争。

拜登政府还对中国电动汽车征收100%关税，并打击可能跟踪美国驾驶员的技术，进一步阻止中国低成本电动汽车进入美国市场。"法利说："看来政府非常重视通过有关数据隐私和来自这些原始设备制造商的自主技术的政策。

代价高昂的努力与充满希望的未来

尽管采取了这些积极措施，但电动汽车对福特来说仍是一个亏损项目，福特预计今年将亏损 15 亿美元。不过，法利希望下一代电动汽车的制造成本会更低，部分原因是爱尔兰共和军提供了激励措施。

Existing tariffs of 27.5% have already kept most low-cost Chinese EVs out of the U.S. market. Yet, some Chinese models, like those from BYD, are priced under $11,000, significantly lower than comparable American models. With Chinese imports making up 20% of new car sales in Mexico, Farley warns that it’s only a matter of time before Chinese manufacturers establish factories in Mexico to ship EVs to the U.S.

Ford’s Strategy for EV Market Penetration

Ford is strategizing to tackle the EV market by focusing on affordability and commercial vehicles. Farley emphasized that customer data from early EV models like the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning has been invaluable.

"我们拥有汽车的所有数据，因此我们可以看到 Mach-E。我们可以看到人们是如何使用它的，他们的充电状态如何，他们在哪里开车，多久充一次电。

Surprisingly, Ford’s research found that half of Americans take four or fewer trips over 150 miles a year. This insight has led Ford to develop more affordable EVs with shorter-range batteries, targeting a market segment that benefits significantly from the $7,500 tax credit.

驾驭全球电动汽车竞赛

Ford is adjusting its battery supply chains and production plans to leverage U.S. policies, aiming to reduce EV manufacturing costs. Farley reiterated the competitive nature of the global EV market in a recent blog post: “We are in a global race to compete in a future where electric propulsion will undoubtedly be a giant force in transportation. America cannot cede innovation leadership to China, Europe or any other region.”

EVXL’s Take

Ford’s proactive approach to leveraging government policies underscores the importance of strategic support in the EV sector. As EVXL has highlighted in recent articles, these policies not only foster innovation but also ensure that American companies can compete on a global scale. The combination of consumer incentives, domestic production benefits, and protective tariffs is essential in maintaining a competitive edge against low-cost Chinese EVs. Ford’s focus on affordability and commercial EVs is a promising strategy to expand market reach and drive the transition to electric transportation.

照片由福特公司提供