For a year, we at MRCTV have been reporting on the market rejection of electric vehicles, even as we have kept track of the unconstitutional federal government imposing fascist so-called “regulations” (better known as diktats) on carmakers to force them to make virtually only those.
Curiously, the unworkability, the dangers, the expense, and the environmental problems involved with electric/battery “fueled” vehicles don’t appeal to people who actually want to reliably, efficiently, and easily reach their destinations and do their jobs.
It’s been a classic battle – a fight between hubristic government central planning, political payoffs to “green” special interests, and false claims of “science” versus what remains of the free market and the ability of individuals peacefully to act according to their needs and interests.
And now, as always happens, after billions in government spending and favoritism, countless cynical speeches and dumb pop media applause, the market, again, is revealing its power to reject the utopian (read: dystopian) anti-market plans of the politicians.
A few months after announcing that it was cutting back its production numbers for the electric F-150 Lightning, Ford Motor Company has told the world that it is “pausing” production of the truck.
Eric Revell reports for Fox News:
“Ford announced Thursday that it will temporarily pause production of its electric F-150 Lightning for several weeks amid sluggish consumer demand for EVs.
The automaker plans to idle the Rouge Electric Vehicle Plant, which is located outside of Detroit and makes the F-150 Lightning, after the end of the shift on Nov. 15. Production will resume on Jan. 6.”
This is a significant pause.
Despite the fact that, as Revell notes, “like Ford's other U.S. plants,” this Rouge plant “already has a scheduled holiday week starting on Dec. 23,” the company would not be making such quick cuts to save money if this were not a major, major problem.
Revell adds:
"’We continue to adjust production for an optimal mix of sales growth and profitability,’ a Ford spokesperson said about the move.
Ford has cut back on its EV push over the past year and announced in August that it was canceling a planned three-row electric SUV and also delaying a new electric version of the best-selling F-150 pickup.”
Indeed, MRCTV reported in July about the Ford shift away from the electric vehicle boondoggle, noting about Ford’s management:
“They not only are ending previous EV plans, they are returning billions of dollars and a major plant to the manufacture of internal combustion engine trucks.”
And Revell adds:
“CEO Jim Farley has said that one of the main solutions to improving EV sales is to bring down production costs – a key goal for the company given it's expected to lose roughly $5 billion on EVs this year. Ford is one of the few automakers to publicly report EV sales separately.
Other major U.S. automakers are encountering similar growing pains with respect to their EV plans.
The Wall Street Journal reported that GM has delayed its plans for a new Buick EV model and also a battery-making factory, and expects its EV business will lose money next year.”
But that’s not stopping the central planners in DC from taking more of our money and sprinkling it like faery dust on their fantasy EV friends.
In fact, in July, the Biden-Harris circus announced another $2 billion in subsidies to “retrofit and retool” normal auto-making facilities into electric vehicle pits – cesspools of waste to churn out products people do not want – and, just last week, the Biden crew promoted its “Inflation Reduction Act” handout (nothing like printing and spending more money to “reduce inflation” eh?) of $50 million to a Colorado-based EV-interest.
How does it feel to know that you’re buying an EV without knowing it or wanting it, in the first place?
And if one thinks this is just a problem within the Biden Administration, they might want to know that Donald Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance (R) also dislikes the Bidenista pork spending on EVs -- because, according to one of Vance’s recent appearances in Detroit, the Biden graft machine is not handing out ENOUGH for EVs…
Related: Is Government Losing Its Push To Make Us Drive Dangerous Electrics?
LaToya Scott reports for Benzinga that, three weeks ago:
“Republican vice-presidential candidate, Sen. JD Vance, did not mince words when he criticized the Biden administration’s $500 million grant to convert a Michigan auto plant to produce electric vehicles (EVs). Vance labeled the funding as ‘table scraps’ and warned of significant job losses in the auto industry if Vice President Kamala Harris is elected in November.”
Seriously. You aren’t misreading this. Vance wants MORE federal handouts to EV makers in Michigan.
“Vance's campaign spokesperson, William Martin, echoed the senator’s stance, arguing that the current administration's EV investments are insufficient. ‘Vance believes the current administration's investments in clean energy and electric vehicles are leaving Michigan auto workers with table scraps,’ Martin said."
The idea that the government is “investing” in anything is a stunning, perennial, insult. The arrogance and conceit of it are clear.
Of course, part of the GOP “handout rationale” is that, by 2035, the federal government will push carmakers to manufacture and sell car lines mostly comprised of electric vehicles, so the handout is a form of “help.”
Which, of course, sees the GOP politicians who accept this fake “justification” also accepting the unfounded idea that the federal government can dictate to carmakers how “efficient” their products must be in order to be sold.
Both the Dems and Republicans who support these auto mandates often do so by claiming that the “emissions” from internal combustion engines are causing a dangerous increase in global temperatures, a danger that supposedly justifies their unconstitutionally fascist mandates and subsidies.
But their climate apocalypse “actions” not only are not sanctioned by the US Constitution, the fear, itself, is not justified.
Most political thievery of our rights comes on the heels of politicians and their tax-funded pals promoting fear and the canard that if they don’t have power over us, we will be harmed, if they can’t control us, we will be at risk.
But they and their presumptions of power are the eternal and growing threat. The way government plans have screwed-up the automobile market is a perfect example. They steal our money, block our choices, and destroy our liberty. And, as we can see with Ford, the central planners aren’t willing to open their own plants and compete. They want to game the system.
Which means they are harming it – and us.