Ford Motor(US:F) Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-12-16 07:21Core Viewpoint - Ford Motor Company announced a $19.5 billion charge related to its electric vehicle investments, marking a significant retreat from electric vehicle technology as the company shifts focus back to traditional fuel and hybrid models to better align with consumer preferences in the U.S. [1] Group 1: Financial Implications - Approximately $8.5 billion of the charge is related to the cancellation of multiple future electric vehicle projects, including a large pickup truck planned for production in Tennessee [2] - An additional $6 billion was written down due to the termination of a joint venture with South Korea's SK On, which was initially established to produce batteries for electric vehicles [2] - Ford's adjusted EBIT forecast for 2025 has been raised from $6-6.5 billion to $7 billion, supported by strong business fundamentals and cost improvements [2] Group 2: Strategic Shift - Ford has effectively abandoned all next-generation electric vehicle projects, including large pickups and certain commercial vehicles, opting instead to produce gasoline-powered trucks at the Tennessee facility [3] - The company plans to replace the originally intended electric commercial vehicles with "affordable" hybrid and gasoline models, with a new series of budget-friendly vehicles being developed by a secret R&D team in California [3] - The first model from this new series is expected to be a mid-size pickup priced around $30,000, set to launch in 2027 [3] Group 3: Sales Performance - In November, Ford's total U.S. sales were 164,925 vehicles, a slight decline of 0.9% year-over-year, with electric vehicle sales plummeting by 60.8% to just 4,247 units [3] - The sales figures for specific electric models showed significant declines, with the F-150 Lightning down 72% and the Mustang Mach-E down 49% [3][4] Group 4: Future Outlook - Despite challenges in the electric vehicle sector, Ford's hybrid vehicle sales increased by 14% in November, with total sales for the year surpassing 205,497 units, a growth of over 19% [6] - The company anticipates that by 2030, the combined sales of hybrid, extended-range electric, and pure electric vehicles will rise from the current 17% to 50% of its total sales [6] - Ford is also investing $2 billion over the next two years to produce batteries for energy storage services, aiming to capture a share of the growing U.S. battery storage market [7]