Last week, Ford CEO Jim Farley told us some very helpful things about the future of the Mustang. The most important piece of news was Farley’s thoughts on making the brand into a real family of cars, which Dearborn started with the Mustang Mach-E. I was deeply interested when the CEO said, “There will never be a pony car that runs on batteries alone.” He was clearly drawing a line in the sand. In ten or fifteen years, will he have to walk it back? “I can promise you that we will never make an all-electric Mustang,” Farley told Autocar. It only makes sense for Mustang when I see other companies, like Rimac and Formula E, that only use electric power. Great for other Ford cars—look at how popular the Transit is around the world—but not for the Mustang. As my coworker Nico and many others have pointed out, Farley’s statement raises some doubts about the Mach-E, whether intentional or not. But the real question is, why would Farley make such a bold statement, and what does he believe it will achieve in terms of boosting Ford’s electric car sales? I’m skeptical about its effectiveness. If you really want to avoid making an all-electric Mustang, you’re just being foolish. Porsches and Lamborghinis that cost six or seven figures and use the most expensive special mixes of synthetic fuel will soon be the exceptions. Most cars sold to the public will soon be electric. Things like vinyl records and tube TVs that used to be cheap but are no longer used will become vintage luxury items. It’s going to happen after 2030. But is it really 2040 or 2045? Who knows? The whole world needs to do this for the earth, and we will as soon as technology and infrastructure allow us to do it without sacrificing ease of use or cost. That’s not a very offensive statement. Let’s say that you do. Ford is trying to sell electric cars right now, so don’t think about it until later. It wants to get people interested in the Mach-E, which comes in two styles: a rally-specified model and a GT model that can go from 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds. When Farley says that other fake Mustangs can be EVs, but a real Mustang never will, he’s basically echoing the negative sentiment that has been expressed in the comments section of almost every story we’ve written about the Mach-E over the last four years. This is not a positive attitude toward Ford. For fans, the math is easy: why would I want to buy an electric Ford that claims to be fast if Ford’s CEO, who is a real racer who would love to fight against all of his rivals in the fastest hypercars, thinks that electric powertrains are not good enough for the company’s most famous sports car? No matter if you like EVs or not, why say that when you’re trying to run a business and give people cool products? It’s clear that the “Big Three” are doing everything they can to promote EVs, especially models geared toward enthusiasts. However, their tone has always been off-target. GM President Mark Reuss, on the other hand, seems set on a four-door Camaro that is fuel-efficient and fun to drive but might have a limited speed. That’s not a Camaro; at most, it’s a Cobalt SS car, which will be great for people who already buy a Camaro. On the other hand, Dodge has not been as smart as Ford in not giving their electric cars their most recognized names. The CEO of the company, Tim Kuniskis, who is leaving soon, tries to win over the coalition of gas-stove fervor fans by saying that the Charger Daytona is an EV that “they” don’t “want the brotherhood to have.” Just who are “they,” and what does this group have against “the brotherhood”? Does becoming a member of the cult make you eligible for the car? There are so many complicated and exciting parts to this. I’m now going to buy a Hyundai. Detroit should try to be normal for a while, at least until there is proof that it’s very clear that the business existential crisis is actually drawing people in. Many people like gas-powered cars and electric cars will have a lot of the same good points. Some of those things might be different, but some might not! As always, make them the best you can, no matter how they work. If the tactics of internalized shame or making up rules about what EVs can and cannot do don’t work, that’s a pretty calm and positive place to be.
