(ELE) FORD CONSIDERING EV MANUFACTURING IN INDIA

Ford Motor Co. shared it is considering the possibility of manufacturing EVs in India, just months after a halt to all sales and manufacturing in the Asian country. In addition to exploring EV manufacturing in India, Ford is also open to the idea of reopening its sales books in India for EVs only.

Ford India Private Ltd. was founded in 1995 as a subsidiary that launched several popular combustion models of the brand overseas. However, last September Ford HQ announced an end to all sales and manufacturing in India, citing global economic factors as well as a failure to keep pace with competitors in the Indian market.

Despite 25 years of sales in India, Ford held just 2% of the passenger vehicle market, admitting it had accumulated losses over $2 billion over the last ten years.

In this process Ford and several other automakers are willing to abandoned less lucrative market-ventures to refocus those funds toward electrification, a tremendous aspect of the automaker’s future strategy.

Following the latest comments from Ford, manufacturing in India might be back in play as long as its EV-focused. electrek - link - electrek muck rack - link - Scooter Doll - link - more like this (India) - link - more like this - link

(GUA) EV ENQUIRIES INCREASE FROM FUEL PANIC BUYING

A Tesla electric car drives past cars queueing for fuel at a BP filling station in Peterborough. Photograph: Paul Marriott/Rex/Shutterstock

As petrol stations in parts of the UK started running out of fuel on Friday, business at Martin Miller’s electric car dealership in Guildford, Surrey, started soaring.

After what ended up being his company EV Experts busiest day ever, interest does not appear to be dying down. This week the diary is booked up with test drives and the business is low on stock.

“People buy electric cars for environmental reasons, for cost-saving reasons and because the technology’s great,” he said. “But Friday was one of those moments where people said, ‘Do you know what, this is a sign that we need to go electric’.”

While scenes of chaos play out at petrol stations across the country amid shortages, for many electric vehicle (EV) dealers the fuel crisis has led to an unexpected surge in inquiries and sales.

EVA England, a non-profit representing new and prospective EV drivers, reports a rise in electric car inquiries and in interest at EV dealers, particularly in the last week.

“Saturday was bonkers but Friday even surpassed that, it was very strange,” said Miller, who founded his company four years ago. “I’ve now got trade-in cars with no petrol to move them.”

Along with existing factors such as the expansion of London’s ultra-low emission zone, the fuel crisis has proved to be another trigger point, he said. “People were using it as ‘this is the moment where I’m not going to put this off any longer’.” - link - Miranda Bryant - link - more like this - link