Tesla may dominate the conversation when it comes to electric cars, but according to Ford CEO Mark Fields, his company could offer an equally impressive vehicle if it wanted to. Of course Ford already sells electric vehicles, but taking on Tesla’s high-end Model Swould be another challenge entirely.
Speaking during an earnings call this week, Fields confirmed the company’s interest in the Model S. ”We drove it. We took it apart. We put it back together and we drove it again,” he said. So clearly Ford thinks it can build a Tesla competitor if it wants to, but will it?
Ford’s earnings are down this quarter. The company posted $1.2 billion in profits compared to $2.6 billion a year earlier, though it still managed to beat expectations. So it might make sense to release a Model S competitor in an attempt to boost sales. For now, the Ford Focus Electric is a significantly cheaper option at less than half the price of a Tesla, but it’s still not selling in high numbers.
Competing with Tesla might be a smart move, but that doesn’t mean Ford will actually do it. For now it seems more likely the company is simply scoping out its competition.
SOURCE USA TODAY