Ford CEO Jim Farley and Elon Musk just announced that in early 2024 all 12,000 Tesla Superchargers can be operational with Ford automobiles. Farley additionally introduced next-generation Ford automobiles would come outfitted with the NACS port, Tesla’s standardized model of its proprietary charging system.
Elon Musk mentioned, “We don’t need Tesla superchargers to be a walled backyard,” on the Twitter House name. In response to Musk, Tesla needs Ford to have an equal footing with regards to a charging community.
The Twitter House stage was secure this time round, following the disaster that was Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential announcement speech yesterday.
The dialog between the 2 automaker CEOs comes as EV competitors continues to rise. Tesla has loved its dominance on the prime of the rising electrical automobile {industry}, however different producers are lastly bringing on extra selection and options to Tesla’s top-selling Mannequin Y. Tesla has dropped costs a number of occasions this yr to spur gross sales, bringing the Mannequin 3 sedan under $40,000.
Worth cuts aren’t solely occurring at Tesla. Ford had dropped costs as effectively, and different producers are inching closer to an industry-wide EV value conflict.
Ford has among the best-selling EVs (quantity two, to be precise), but it surely’s been hamstrung by manufacturing issues that included defective batteries that might catch hearth (that challenge was addressed, but it surely stalled Lightning manufacturing for some time). Mustang Mach-E manufacturing was additionally stalled for weeks as the corporate improved processes on the plant.
Ford restructured the company a yr in the past to function separate companies for its extremely worthwhile gasoline automobiles, now referred to as Ford Blue, and its electrical efforts below Ford Mannequin E — which, by the best way, was the initially supposed title for Tesla’s Mannequin 3 (they even needed to change the Mannequin 3 brand to not infringe on Ford’s trademark).
Farley has praised Musk earlier than, however he’s additionally dished out some punches. One time last year, Farley touted how the Ford F-150 Lightning was already being manufactured and placed on the street whereas Tesla’s Cybertruck wasn’t wherever in sight (and it nonetheless isn’t). “Take that, Elon Musk,” Farley mentioned on the time.
Each Tesla and Ford have additionally joined the Nationwide Charging Expertise Consortium, a collaborative effort that brings collectively Nationwide Laboratories, EV gear OEMs, and automakers to enhance charging infrastructure reliability.
