Ford to launch new line of electric vehicles

[DainBramaged]

Ford Motor Co. today announced a new line of electric vehicles coming from 2010 through 2012.

Executive Chairman Bill Ford, speaking at the Detroit auto show, said Ford will roll out a plug-in electric commercial van in 2010. That will be followed by a plug-in Ford Focus-sized car in 2011 being developed with supplier and coachbuilder Magna International Inc. Neither will be hybrids, meaning they won't be mated with an internal-combustion engine.

In 2012, the company intends to deliver the next-generation of hybrids, including plug-ins. Ford also said it plans to electrify its coming global mid-sized car platform, or Fusion-sized car.

"Ford is heading in the direction America and our customers want us to go, which is a green, high-tech and global future," Bill Ford said.

The Ford Fusion Hybrid sedan and its sister, the Mercury Milan Hybrid, go on sale this spring. They join the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid crossovers.

Ford Motor used a large former concert hall here to tout the fuel efficiency of its current and future fleet. CEO Alan Mulally arrived in a European version of the Fiesta subcompact. Bill Ford was driven to the stage in a Fusion Hybrid. The new Fusion Hybrid gets 41 mpg on the highway, which Ford boasts as the best fuel economy among mid-sized sedans.

Answering reporters' questions after the presentation, Bill Ford said the incoming Obama administration could use new federal gas taxes or other incentives to bolster demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles.

He said consumers should not be lulled by the recent precipitous fall in gasoline prices to less than half the $4 a gallon charged this summer. Prices are sure to resume their climb when the economy picks up, Bill Ford said.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20090111/ANA02/901119979/1115/FRONTPAGE (subscription only)

[TheWraith]

1. Kicked and recommended. nt

[liberalmuse]

2. Ford person here.

From a family that has always favored Ford products. This is good news!

[HughMoran]

5. Same here

Fords have been treating me right for the past 20 years.

[DainBramaged]

3. " Ford will roll out a plug-in electric commercial van in 2010. "

THAT one line is the deal for me. I can see them going after the business by the US Post office with that one. It fits many niches.

[alfredo]

11. In the sixties Asmara Eritrea (then Ethiopia), used

electric powered garbage trucks.

[Maven]

4. That's great news by why are they STILL making redundant models?

Can someone with knowledge of the auto industry explain to me the reason (if there is one) for making two cars that are virtually the same under two different brands?

[TheKentuckian]

9. Marketing, but I imagine its mostly omething more whacky

like they are required to from buyouts and whatnot or it creates some crazy tax benefit.

[MartynLima]

6. Hypnotism

Just when our populace looks like they will be a market for fuel efficient cars, gas prices fall.

Is there something going on here?

[Gold Metal Flake]

8. Maybe, but gas prices are up almost 50 cents from the recent low.

Until we have real oversight, we will never really know what is happening with market manipulations.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[bluecollarcharlie]

12. Yeah, It's called a recession.

Honestly, give up the conspiracy theories. Nobody's buying, no one is going anywhere, people are losing their jobs. Yeah, it's that simple. Sheesh!

[Gold Metal Flake]

7. Sounds interesting.

Maybe I can sell a couple of my vintage rides by that time and get an electric Focus-thingie.

[Occam Bandage]

10. Ford has struck me as the most honestly innovative of the Big Three. This is a good direction. nt

[Statistical]

14. Ford actually is pretty well run.

Ford actually is pretty well run.

Compare Ford balance sheet, income statements, or cash flow to GM.

Kinda unfair to put Ford & GM in the same boat.

The big problem for Ford is that they share a lot of suppliers with GM.
If GM fails, then the suppliers fail. Ford runs out of parts and has to create new orders, which results in stoppages at assembly plants as part inventories dry up. Idle plants on top of already troubled industry may be enough to put Ford in the ground.

Essentially it is "guilt by association".

Ford really needs to line up more independent suppliers or (God forbid) line up cross platform suppliers who create parts for the foreign auto manufacturers also. Eventually Ford can be less reliant on GM survival.

[Orsino]

13. ...if there still is a Ford.

It takes disaster to pry our internal combustion engines from us.