Back in September, we told you all about Ford’s plan to have dealers sign up to sell electric vehicles by October 31. Evidently, numerous dealers reached out and asked for more time to make their choice. Now, Ford is obliging and providing another month for dealers to make a decision about their future plans, pushing back the deadline to December 2.
“We value our relationship with our dealers and have decided to provide additional time for our dealers who have not decided or asked for more time,” said company spokesperson Marty Gunsberg in a statement to Automotive News.
Ford wants to ensure that dealers who do sell their EVs are well-educated and equipped to do so. To that end, it’s offering two different levels of EV buy-in that dealers can choose from. Notably, neither option will be inexpensive for the dealers in question.
Read: Ford Dealers Will Not Be Required To Sell EVs If They Don’t Want To
The first level is called Model e Certified and Ford estimates that dealers who select it will need to spend up to $500,000. That money will go towards EV infrastructure at the dealership itself. Dealers who go this route will have access to order EVs for customers, but they won’t be provided with EV inventory or demo units.
Conversely, those who go for the second-tier, Model e Elite, will have access to EV inventory, demo units, and a guaranteed allotment each year. Of course, they’ll need to spend up to $1.2 million for the privilege. That includes ensuring that the dealership has at least two DC fast chargers and one that’s specifically for customers.
Moving the deadline back provides more time, especially for dealers who are torn by this decision, and at the same time, it more closely aligns with the Dec 15 deadline set for Lincoln dealers. It’s noteworthy that dealerships that offer both Ford and Lincoln products will be required to invest in both programs as opposed to one or the other.
Ford has made it clear in the past that it won’t force any dealership to make the change or buy into the program. The exclusive benefits for dealers who opt in begin on January 1, 2024.
