I just got my hands on the new all-electric Ford Explorer. It’s a bold move by Ford, but there’s a lot to unpack here. What do you all think about this first step into the EV family SUV space? Let’s discuss.
This smaller Explorer design probably won’t sell well in the U.S. The Mach-E was a good start for Ford, but they really need something to compete with the Kia EV9—a true Highlander rival. Hyundai and Kia already have a full lineup of EV SUVs on the way.
@Chancey
It’ll happen eventually, but Ford seems to still prioritize combustion engine sales for now.
Mal said:
@Chancey
It’ll happen eventually, but Ford seems to still prioritize combustion engine sales for now.
Exactly. EV demand is solid when prices are reasonable, but automakers hike up prices to make up for slim profits, which kills the demand. A lot of these companies haven’t had to compete in years because of their market share, but now they’re scrambling in the EV space, and it’s not going well.
@Chancey
Do you really think automakers are deliberately losing billions on EV divisions? They’re designing everything around EV platforms. Why would they sabotage their own plans?
Clarke said:
@Chancey
Do you really think automakers are deliberately losing billions on EV divisions? They’re designing everything around EV platforms. Why would they sabotage their own plans?
Losing billions isn’t uncommon for new vehicles with new production lines. The costs to set up manufacturing can be huge, so most new models lose money in the first few years.
I might sound jaded, but many first-gen EVs were overpriced, underpowered, or limited production compliance cars. Examples include the Honda E, Chevy Bolt, and Mazda MX-30—cars that were too expensive for what they offered or had glaring issues like painfully slow charging speeds or short ranges.
It felt like automakers wanted to prove that ‘nobody wants an EV.’ But when demand became clear, they couldn’t—or wouldn’t—scale up production. Meanwhile, brands like Kia showed you could make affordable, long-range EVs with decent charging speeds.
Tesla proved people wanted EVs. So was it incompetence or a deliberate effort to slow the market? GM leaving Europe rather than meeting demand for the Bolt was a telling move, in my opinion.
@Chancey
You’re reading too much into it. Public companies focused on profits wouldn’t sabotage their own EV programs. This isn’t a conspiracy—it’s poor planning and execution.
Clarke said:
@Chancey
You’re reading too much into it. Public companies focused on profits wouldn’t sabotage their own EV programs. This isn’t a conspiracy—it’s poor planning and execution.
Look, GM killed the EV1, Volt, and now the Bolt. Even if it’s not a conspiracy, their actions show a deliberate lack of commitment. Walking away from backorders isn’t a theory—it happened.
@Chancey
I never thought I’d defend GM, but this conspiracy talk is nonsense. The Bolt peaked at 3% of GM’s sales, and the Volt never hit expectations. It’s not like GM was leaving piles of money on the table.
It’s basically a Honda with a Ford badge slapped on it.
Scout said:
It’s basically a Honda with a Ford badge slapped on it.
Actually, it’s built on VW Group’s MEB platform.