Ford is gearing as much as launch new EVs abroad because it battles for international market share. Forward of its EV blitz, Ford is at present the fastest-growing auto model in Saudi Arabia. The American automaker is laying the groundwork for “an electrified future” in The Center East.
Ford sees gross sales surge in Saudi Arabia with EVs en route
Extra persons are shopping for Ford’s autos in The Center East than ever. “2024 has been an distinctive yr for Ford within the Center East, with gross sales having doubled since 2022,” president of Ford Center East, Ravi Ravichandran, stated Thursday.
Ford’s success is being pushed by “robust market share good points by our distributors,” Ravichandran defined.
The American automaker is rising in key areas, together with the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
Ford stated it’s at present the fastest-growing auto model in Saudi Arabia. The gross sales surge is due to “Ford’s intensive and freshest portfolio of autos,” the corporate stated. Nonetheless, the lineup is about to get much more engaging.
The corporate highlighted its new lineup of autos, together with its first absolutely electrical car, the Mustang Mach-E.
The “Mustang Mach E represents a landmark second for us,” Ford’s president of Worldwide Markets Group, Kay Hart, stated. “It’s our first absolutely electrical car for the area and is actually one of the crucial thrilling autos Ford has ever produced.”
Ford will launch the 2025 Mustang Mach-E within the area subsequent yr. Will probably be out there in two battery choices with an estimated vary of 350 to 450 km (217 to 280 miles).
The Mach-E will be a part of Ford’s F-150, Taurus, and Territory fashions. Subsequent yr, Ford’s best-selling nameplate, the Territory, can even arrive within the Center East in hybrid type.
With a brand new elements distribution heart opening within the UAE in January 2025, Ford stated it is going to supply faster elements supply, permitting drivers to get again on the highway faster.
Electrek’s Take
Though Ford is rising in The Center East, the corporate is downsizing in different key areas. In Germany, Ford misplaced two of its most skilled management staff members this month.
The American automaker now has simply two managing administrators in Germany, down from 9 earlier this yr.
Ford is restructuring its enterprise in Germany because it fights stiff competitors, together with low-cost Chinese language EV makers. The Center East is one other key abroad auto market shifting to electrical fashions. Ford will compete with incoming rivals like BYD to realize market share.
Within the US, Ford is shutting down manufacturing of its as soon as best-selling F-150 Lightning electrical pickup in Michigan for practically two months.
Ford spokesperson Jessica Enoch advised Electrek in an emailed assertion, “We proceed to regulate manufacturing for an optimum mixture of gross sales development and profitability.”
By the primary ten months of 2024, Ford has bought practically 74,000 EVs within the US, up 38% from the 53,502 bought final yr.