Connected Car
The Ford brand has taken a two-pronged approach to its product lineup, offering high- margin gasoline models in select segments while slowly ramping up electric vehicle production. Although the company is finding the electric transition to be harder than previously expected — it delayed some production goals this year — executives are speeding ahead with development of a second-generation platform to underpin EVs assembled at the new Blue Oval City plant in Tennessee and a retooled plant in Oakville, Ontario. CEO Jim Farley recently said the company plans to quadruple hybrid sales in the next five years, following success with hybrid Maverick and F-150 pickups. Meanwhile, three longtime products — the Escape, Edge and Transit Connect — are slated for the scrap heap.