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Ford is developing an EV competitor to the Tesla Model 3 and Chevy Bolt, says CEO

While the Ford Focus Electric may have been an interesting car during the latest generation of all-electric vehicles, along with the LEAF and BMW i3, the automaker has since been complacent about the upcoming new long-range wave of EVs. The company recently announced a $4.5 billion in investment in electric vehicles to close the gap, but it has yet to announce a competitor to the Tesla Model 3, Chevy Bolt or the next-gen LEAF.

During a conference call with analysts and reporters this week, Chief Executive Officer Mark Fields confirmed for the first time that Ford is “developing” something for the segment.

When asked about upcoming Tesla Model 3 and Chevy Bolt, Fields said:

“Our approach, very simply, is we want to make sure that we’re either among the leaders or in a leadership position. When you look at some of the competitors and what they’ve announced, clearly, that’s something we’re developing for.”

While most automakers are about to launch electric vehicles with around 200 miles of range in the $35,000 price range, Ford is only about to release an updated version of the Focus Electric with about 100 miles – up from the 76 miles range of the current version.

At least now we know that they are actively working toward it because up to this point, it wasn’t always clear based on all their ‘hybrid talk‘. But they have some catching up to do if they want to make sure to be among “the leaders or in a leadership position”. Fields did not give any indication on when we can expect this new long-range EV to hit the market.

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Comments

  1. Rory Conaway - 8 years ago

    snore, snooze, useless. In 12 months we are getting a new electric car. It’s probably going to be a Bolt unless either Nissan or Ford have something better. As for Tesla, I need it in 12 months, not 3 years.

    • Illuminati - 8 years ago

      Enjoy your Bolt.

      I have the luxury to wait.

  2. nonni55 - 8 years ago

    Once we all had NOKIA phones….NOKIA did not understand the radical change that iPhones made – so they lost it all.

    • Bubba2000 - 8 years ago

      Nokia like Black Berry came up with phones with keyboard and touch screen. Kind like have a gasoline engine and battery+motor combo.

  3. Paul Deschamps - 8 years ago

    100 Miles Is golf cart range.. We need a 300 Mile range.

    • Trev Page - 8 years ago

      “I’ll never buy an EV. I just don’t adapt to new technology” says my dad who emailed me using his iPad. *facepalm*

    • Dylan Thabest - 8 years ago

      AKA Tesla range, Tesla is the way to go in 2016 you can’t get better electric cars for the value, especially for the 35,000 Dollar Model 3 which is better than most 50,000 Dollar cars!

      • roryconaway - 8 years ago

        Do you understand that the Model 3 won’t be available for at least 2 years if you are lucky? And as for that 200+ mile range, on the freeway, you will probably get 120-140 miles in Phoenix in the summer assuming you don’t drive over 70mph.

      • Nøderak - 8 years ago

        IMHO, that 215+ range thing was just a one-up of GM to get GM to say that yes, one can go more than 200 miles on 60kWh. And remember, there is going to be a 300+ mi range Mod3 also. I think it will be closer to 250 and 320 miles when the Mod 3 actually ships in late ’17

  4. electro - 8 years ago

    kinda late Ford

    • Not really. The modern EV market is still in its infancy.

      • jednoucelovy - 8 years ago

        Development of a non-iterative innovative product takes time. If they have only now started, they are indeed late. Also, if they aren’t investing in a supercharger-grade charging infrastructure (which they aren’t), they will never catch up and will succumb to the market reality.

      • @jednoucelovy

        That’s just not how the real world works. Sorry.

  5. Nøderak - 8 years ago

    The more evs you can build the merrier. When will Lincoln get a MKC-ev? Spread the wealth among your different marks.

  6. hairy - 8 years ago

    is that date 1st nov 2016 or 11.jan 2016 which is gone, and pic is not related on this story?

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