Shoot us a Text.

It’s Tuesday and we’re talking about Ford lifting restrictions on which dealers can sell EVs, the political divide impacting EV adoption, and Bass Pro Shops' is the next retailer leaning affordability amid inflation.

Show Notes with links:

• Ford is set to undo a key element of its EV certification program, opening EV sales to its entire U.S. retail network following backlash and lawsuits.
  • Ford plans to reopen EV sales to its full U.S. retail network after feedback from 11 in-person dealer meetings and extensive pushback.
  • Initially, EV sales were limited to dealers making significant investments in chargers and training, which led to criticism and lawsuits from over 400 dealers and state associations.
  • Dealers argued the restrictions were unfair and potentially illegal, with lawsuits claiming Ford could not legally prevent some dealers from selling its products.
  • Lisa Drake, VP of EV programs, stated the goal is to involve more dealers and reduce certification requirements, aiming for a more inclusive approach saying, "We'll be more ubiquitous with our training and make sure essentially all of our dealers are equipped to sell them."
  • Attorney Rich Sox, representing dealers in New York, emphasized, "This is about making sure all dealers have access to EVs and not being pigeonholed into one of three categories the program arbitrarily created."
    
    
    
• As automakers push their electric vehicles, some consumers resist for political reasons, highlighting a growing challenge in the EV market.
  • Many consumers oppose EVs due to political and ideological reasons, complicating automakers' efforts.
  • A Morning Consult poll found about 40% of Americans have an unfavorable view of EVs, with 38% citing political views and 63% concerned about China's dominance in the EV supply chain.
  • Conservative consumers often criticize public subsidies for EVs and regulations steering them towards electric cars, contrasting with liberals who support EVs for environmental reasons.
  • Kia's Steven Center acknowledges EVs as a hot-button issue: "You know that old saying, ‘Don’t talk about religion or politics?’ I think you can add EVs to that."
  • Mike Murphy, a Republican strategist, noted, "There is a hearts-and-minds resistance to EVs, mostly on the Republican side. If you can’t break down that tribalism, the industry isn’t going to sell enough EVs."
  • Bill Wallace, a South Florida car dealer, noted that about one-third of his customers express adamant opposition to EVs, viewing them as government control.
    • "They are angry," Wallace said. "They feel like it’s the government trying to control their lives." he continued ““I said, ‘Mary (Barra), you have to understand the red-state mentality. These people want no part of it,’

• The Auto Industry isn’t the only one talking about affordability, in response to persistent inflation, Johnny Morris, CEO of Bass Pro Shops, is emphasizing the brand's

Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.

Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/

JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/