DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – Many Michigan Ford dealers are confident in their ability to sell Electric Vehicles. However, but this belief is not shared nationally for the automaker.

What’s happening nationwide?

Roughly half the Ford dealers in the nation are only selling hybrid and internal combustion engine vehicles,  according to the Detroit Free Press; That’s 1,550 Ford dealers. They are waiting to invest in the materials to service and sell electric vehicles. 

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“EV adoption rates vary across the country and we believe our dealers know their market best,” Ford spokesman Marty Gunsberg said according to the Detroit Free Press. “As Ford dealers have completed their own local market assessments, enrollments for 2024 are just over 50% of the network, placing 86% of the population within 20 miles of a Ford dealership that can sell and service a Ford EV.”

As of last December, more than two-thirds of dealers planned to go in on the EV sales, according to the company’s CEO Jim Farley. However, upfront costs sparked concerns.  Those enrolling in the EV pact would have to invest an estimated $500,000 to $1.2 million to construct the infrastructure. 

How are dealers responding?

Gunsberg confirmed to the Detroit Free Press that while at the time of the announcement last year, 1,920 dealers had volunteered to join the Model e Program for the 2024 to 2026 period, some dealers later withdrew. 

Not only did dealers withdraw from the EV program, but dealers from numerous states filed legal challenges eventually leading the company to rollback the total number of charging stations required per dealership, lowering overall costs to dealerships. 

Buick, the oldest brand of General Motors, announced over the summer it would transition to all electric to make cars “even more harmonized with your life.” 

“In North America, Buick’s first electric vehicle is expected to be available in 2024, with plans for an all-electric lineup in the U.S. and Canada by the end of the decade,” the company said in a statement.  “This shift to electric will also reintroduce a name into the family, as all Buick EVs will carry the name Electra. We’re dreaming of a future designed and crafted around you. Join us for a journey to an all-electric and all-inspiring tomorrow.”

What about other automakers?

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General Motors has been experiencing similar delays in its conversion of dealerships to EV as many Buick dealerships have been slow to join in the EV transition; instead nearly half of all Buick dealerships accepted a GM buyout. According to financial records from the automaker, this buyout has cost GM roughly $1 billion through the third quarter of this year. 

According to the Detroit News, Buick spokesperson Sean Poppitt shared about the buyback program saying that the brand “is transforming, launching the best vehicles the brand has ever had and is the fastest-growing mainstream brand in 2023. This all needs to be supported by the best customer experience in the transition to EVs. As stated before, this year, we’ve given dealers who are not aligned with Buick’s future (the option) to exit voluntarily in a respectful and structured way, with the full support of our National Dealer Council.”

What’s the status of Ford’s BlueOval proposed plant?

Despite historic investments in the Dearborn based automaker, Ford suspended operations for several months at its proposed Electric Vehicle Battery plant, BlueOval, in Marshall, Michigan to assess its profitability. 

“We’re pausing work, and we’re going to limit spending on construction at Marshall until we’re confident about our ability to competitively run the plant,” Ford spokesman T.R. Reid told the Detroit News in September.

Ford reduced its Ford F-150 Lightning EV truck production as there has been less than anticipated demand.