Ford to cut 14% of European jobs, blaming EV shift and rising competition | Hacker News Reader

Ford to cut 14% of European jobs, blaming EV shift and rising competition

cnbc.com

18 pointsivewonyoung11 comments

The Mustang EV seemed nice until I read about all the issues with that shoddy door ... I don't know what to call it... "entry system"? I would have preferred a decent BEV with a simple door handle that's proven to work in all (weather)) conditions. Not a car where I have to negotiate if I'm able to use it, or not, even before entering it.

This seems self inflicted to me. Detroit is far behind the industry leaders on EVs, and they’re pushing high-end trims with non-differentiated form factors.

Ford has the F-150, which is uniquely practical, but I doubt they’ll sell many in Europe.

I’m surprised there hasn’t been a land grab with different manufacturers racing to ship models that match their core competencies.

For example, Stellantis has a plug in hybrid jeep, but if you want an EV for off roading your only choice is Rivian. Where are land rover and range rover?

What is practical about the current design of the F-150?

I think trucks are too large and have become a vanity symbol for most owners, especially in the city and state that I live in. I would argue the F-150 is impractical given the lifestyles of most owners in my area, which is to commute, not to haul.

My impression is that if you are a contractor type person, daily going to and from a jobsite, your commute is 50 miles, so electricity works well, and is cost effective, just from the business side of things.

Additionally there is the potential to use the f150 as an alternative to small generators, for those places where there is not full power.

The F-150 Lightning has a 210-mile range in its basic trim _for a mostly empty cabin_. It goes down significantly if you haul anything. It is only practical if you either don’t use the truck for its intended purpose or you have frequent access to fast charging.

They will become a domestic brand protected by tariffs and laws. Jim Farley said it while discussing Chinese Auto manufacturers and their global rise.

All it takes is one administration with the right bribe, er I mean campaign contribution, and the tariffs are gone.

Tariffs are probably the worst thing to happen to Detroit in a long time.

Right after Biden announced them, Ford pushed their entire roadmap back a few years.

They seem to be targeting a world where they’re borderline competitive with foreign vehicles that cost half as much to make. US EV manufacturers that have a strong foreign presence will eat them alive.

I’m not a fan of Musk, but he’s come out against tariffs. The most cynical play on his part would be to wait a year or two for the 100% tariff to distort the market, and encourage a false sense of security in US manufacturers, then rug-pull his US competitors by getting Trump to eliminate the tariffs with minimal warning.

That’d probably be good for the US auto industry in the long term, but hugely profitable to him and Tesla in the short term.

They can’t compete with byd. Doubtful any auto company reasonably can.

And when their new factory comes online in China (forget where), it’ll be game over. Tariff or not.

Turkey?

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