According to a vendor who requested anonymity, the FDRA received a response from Ford “just before Christmas,” but it “did not go far enough in examining the criticisms or prospective improvements for all.”
The vendor who has not agreed to the EV certification packages is not one of those represented by Laubman.
Ford predicts that sellers will pay approximately $1.3 million to join the Model e Certified Elite programme and approximately $560,000 for Model e Certified. According to Ford, charging infrastructure, including DC rapid chargers, accounts for almost 90% of the cost.
Certified Elite dealers may have first dibs on available EVs, while Model e Certified dealers will “concentrate on ownership and charging with restricted built-to-order sales,” according to a Ford official. Dealers who do not participate in both programmes will most likely be limited to selling ICE and hybrid vehicles from January 1, 2024. The next opportunity to join the Model e-Certified programme will most likely be in 2027.
In a release, Ford noted that the packages provide its dealership community with “a competitive advantage as we play to win in the BEV space.”
