Electric Vehicle Strategy Reset
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Ford Scales Back EV Push & Lifts EBIT View: Is F Stock a Buy Now?
ZACKS· 2025-12-16 15:42
Core Insights - Ford is pausing some of its electric vehicle (EV) ambitions and shifting focus towards more profitable hybrids, gas-powered vehicles, and smaller, affordable EVs due to slower EV adoption and rising costs [1][3][4] Group 1: Strategic Shift - The company is moving away from plans to manufacture large EVs and is opting for a more pragmatic approach by focusing on profitable hybrids and internal combustion vehicles [3][4] - Ford's new Universal EV Platform will support a family of affordable, high-volume electric vehicles, with the first vehicle being a midsize electric pickup set to launch in 2027 [4][5] - The F-150 Lightning will be redesigned as a hybrid instead of a fully electric version, and Ford is canceling its upcoming electric van [5] Group 2: Industry Context - Other automakers, such as General Motors and Stellantis, are also scaling back their EV ambitions due to disappointing demand in the U.S. market [6] - The U.S. has fallen behind in EV adoption, exacerbated by the rollback of government incentives under the Trump administration [7] Group 3: Profitability Focus - Ford is launching a battery energy storage systems business, with shipments expected to begin in 2027 and an annual capacity of 20 GWh [8] - The company anticipates margin improvements across its business units and expects the Model e EV unit to reach profitability by 2029 [9] - Ford has raised its 2025 adjusted EBIT outlook to approximately $7 billion, up from a previous range of $6-$6.5 billion [11] Group 4: Financial Performance - Ford expects to record about $19.5 billion in special items, primarily in Q4, related to its EV strategy adjustments [10] - Despite challenges, Ford's stock has gained 31% over the past six months, although it has underperformed compared to competitors [12] - The consensus estimate for Ford's 2025 EPS indicates a 43% year-over-year decline, followed by a projected 35% rebound in 2026 [14]