Ford Focus EV's slow sales trigger massive incentives

[nruggiero]

Ford Focus EV's slow sales trigger massive incentives
Autoblog
January 25, 2013
by Zach Bowman

The Detroit News reports Ford is having real trouble moving its new Focus Electric. As a result, the automaker is offering substantial incentives in an attempt to lure in more buyers. How substantial? Try $10,750 off of a three-year lease. What's more, the EV can now be had for $37,995 ($2,000 less than its original base price) on top of an additional $2,000 cash discount to buy the EV outright – or you can opt for 1.9-percent financing if you work through Ford Motor Credit. None of which factors in various potential government incentives. Last year, Ford managed to sell a paltry 685 of the 1,627 Focus EV hatchbacks it built.

Full article at link.

[AM222]

I wonder if the Focus EV will survive till 2014.
Looks like they should have just focused on their hybrids which are doing better.

[2b2]

I might give FoMoCo too much credit when it comes to planning any/everything (ever since they got their mortgage pretty much just before the Eekonomy started falling apart)
but
let's say it wouldn't surprise me if they planned in this incentive possibility from the get-go
& it has no bearing on the electroFocus's lifespan.
Kinda think they're just adjusting to keep it where they want it in relation to all other EVs' market penetration and THEIR marketing plans.

[AM222]

let's say it wouldn't surprise me if they planned in this incentive possibility from the get-go
& it has no bearing on the electroFocus's lifespan.
Kinda think they're just adjusting to keep it where they want it in relation to all other EVs' market penetration and THEIR marketing plans.

They should have just priced it lower from the start.
In December 2012, Ford only sold 167 Focus EVs while Nissan sold 1,489 Leafs.
The C-Max hybrids did much better, looks like this is what people want.
December 2012 sales
C-Max Hybrid: 3,339 sold
C-Max Energi PHEV: 971 sold

- http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/07...vehicle-sales/

PS: Tougher competition?

The 2013 Leaf will start at $28,800, which is $6,000 lower than the previous model, company executives said Monday at the Detroit auto show. When combined with the federal electric-vehicle tax credit of $7,500 and other state and local tax incentives, the price could fall as low as $18,800 in California.

- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_2478185.html