Podcast appearances and mentions of ford pro

- U.S.-Canada Trade War Threatens Auto Industry - Volkswagen Management Pushes Job Cuts - VW In Talks to Build Military Equipment - BYD Q2 Profits Surge on Exports - BYD Planning Minicar for Europe - Stellantis Dealers Wary of Carvana - Ford Telematics Cuts Fleet Downtime Significantly - Ram ProMaster City Van Starts Under $40,000 - Ford's Lisa Drake Retires - Geely Reveals Off-Roading Architecture

- U.S.-Canada Trade War Threatens Auto Industry - Volkswagen Management Pushes Job Cuts - VW In Talks to Build Military Equipment - BYD Q2 Profits Surge on Exports - BYD Planning Minicar for Europe - Stellantis Dealers Wary of Carvana - Ford Telematics Cuts Fleet Downtime Significantly - Ram ProMaster City Van Starts Under $40,000 - Ford's Lisa Drake Retires - Geely Reveals Off-Roading Architecture

¿Cómo sobrevive una empresa 120 años en la industria más competida del mundo? En este episodio de Dimes y Billetes hablamos con Luciano Pinto, CEO de Ford México, Puerto Rico, Centroamérica y el Caribe, sobre las decisiones más difíciles detrás de la marca: por qué Ford se salió de los autos pequeños, cómo reestructuraron su red de distribuidores en 42%, la apuesta real detrás de los híbridos frente a los eléctricos, y cómo la inteligencia artificial y los datos ya están cambiando el modelo de negocio de la industria automotriz. Además, plática sobre el legado familiar Ford, las Escuelas Ford (60 años y 1.7 millones de niños beneficiados) y su visión de cómo será manejar un auto dentro de 50 años.Prueba café el Capitalhttps://cafeelcapital.com/s/08a4840:00 – Bienvenida: presentan a Luciano Pinto, CEO de Ford México, Puerto Rico, Centroamérica y el Caribe2:17 – Cómo se siente entrar a trabajar en una marca con 120 años de historia6:08 – El legado familiar Ford: por qué un Ford sigue en el consejo hoy 8:06 – El dato que sorprende: solo el 12% de empresas familiares sobreviven a la 2ª generación8:45 – La fórmula de Ford: innovación + consistencia10:05 – ¿Es este el momento más competido en la historia de la industria automotriz?12:23 – Por qué lanzar un auto nuevo toma años (y por qué eso está cambiando)14:48 – La decisión más dolorosa: salir de los autos y SUVs pequeños en 2018-19 17:41 – "Price to play" vs "play to win": la estrategia que cambió Ford 18:46 – Reducir la red de distribuidores en 42%: el proceso más doloroso 21:16 – Las plantas de Ford en México: Chihuahua, Hermosillo, Cuautitlán e Irapuato 22:40 – El Centro Global de Tecnología: 3,500 ingenieros diseñando para el mundo 23:34 – México produce el 30% de todo lo que compra Ford a nivel global 24:09 – ¿Preocupa la relación con Estados Unidos y los aranceles? 25:12 – Escuelas Ford: 60 años de historia y 1.7 millones de niños beneficiados 27:27 – El programa de lentes que cambió las calificaciones de los niños 30:46 – El futuro de la industria: tecnología, IA y una educación que necesita transformarse 31:26 – El vehículo como "habilitador de estilo de vida", no solo transporte 34:20 – Eléctricos vs. híbridos: el "choque de realidad" de la industria 37:28 – Por qué en China el 90% de los autos son eléctricos (el incentivo real) 40:04 – Inteligencia artificial y autonomía: hacia dónde va la industria 41:38 – El caso John Deere: cuando vender datos vale más que vender la máquina 46:30 – Cómo Ford usa IA para convertir datos de flotillas en valor con Ford Pro 49:57 – "¿Qué te mantiene despierto por las noches?" 52:33 – De la planta de manufactura a CEO: la trayectoria de Luciano en Ford 55:56 – Sus 3 consejos para escalar dentro de una corporación 1:01:05 – La pregunta final: ¿cómo será la industria automotriz en 50 años? 1:04:39 – Cierre y despedida

Dealer Uptime Services lautete der Name der jüngsten Ergänzung der Flottenmanagement-Lösungen aus dem Hause Ford Pro. Daniel war bei der Vorstellung des Tools in Freiburg dabei und berichtet in Podcast-Episode #136 von den Funktionen des Konzepts und den dahinter stehenden Überlegungen. Kay befasst sich dann mit den Anti-Dumping-Zöllen auf Reifen-Importe aus China, die von der EU kürzlich beschlossen wurden. Ein Blick auf weitere News der Woche wie die Insolvenz von Rösler Tyre Innovators und die Mitgliederversammlung des ASA-Verbands beschließt die Folge.

May 12, 2026 ~ Jason Roe and Lloyd Jackson speak with Matt Atkinson, Executive Director, North American Sales and Operations, for Ford Pro. They discuss challenges for small businesses. These include rising costs and labor shortages. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when a 100-year-old luxury brand decides to think like a startup?In this episode, Jan Griffiths sits down with Joaquin Nuño-Whelan, President of Lincoln, live from Newlab at Michigan Central. This is not a conversation about cars. This is about leadership, culture, and what it really takes to transform a legacy brand from the inside out.Joaquin shares how he's doing exactly that. Building a team-first culture rooted in trust. Reframing Lincoln's identity around “quiet luxury” and Gravitas. And leading in a way that rejects the old command-and-control model in favor of authenticity, clarity, and ownership.But this conversation goes beyond the brand. Joaquin opens up about something deeper, his commitment to developing people. From empowering his teams inside Lincoln to investing his time in education and nonprofit work, he is actively shaping the next generation of talent entering the industry.That belief becomes real when you hear from Diego Vargas, a student at Detroit Cristo Rey. His voice brings a grounded, honest perspective on opportunity, growth, and what young people need from today's leaders. It's a powerful reminder that the future of this industry will be defined by the leaders we develop now.This episode hits at the core of AutoCulture 2.0: leadership, trust, and the courage to do things differently.Themes Discussed in this EpisodeWhy momentum is the most underrated leadership force inside legacy organizationsThe connection between leadership DNA and brand identityWhat “quiet luxury” really means and why it matters nowHow to lead authentically inside a command-and-control cultureThe power of trusting teams to unlock ownership and performanceWhy legacy OEMs must think like startups to stay relevantThe role of education and early talent in shaping the future workforceBridging industry leadership with student opportunity through programs like FIRST

En el Mercado Barceló de Madrid, Ford Pro presenta una iniciativa que marca el futuro de la logística urbana sostenible: "ElectriCity by Ford".

- China Passes Japan As Top Car Exporter to Australia - Tesla Plans Major Expansion Across Japan - Uber Expands $4,000 Electric Vehicle Driver Grants - Unifor Opposes Stellantis Kit Car Plan - China Dominates Global Humanoid Robot Supply Chain - UBTech Humanoid Robot Revenue Skyrockets - Mercedes EQS Debuts Yoke and Steer-By-Wire - Tariffs Lower U.S. Auto Deficit Despite Costs - Hyundai Closes Sales Gap with Ford in U.S. - Ford Pro Software Reduces Fleet Fuel Waste

Ford Pro y Tennant España revoluciona la gestión de flotas gracias a su telemática avanzada: "Los datos nos permiten tomar decisiones".

How much difference can a few seconds of data make in fleet safety?In this episode of Automotive Fleet on the Move, we connect with Steve Santostasi of @Ford Pro about how higher-resolution telematics data is giving fleets a clearer picture of driver behavior and safety events.Traditionally, many telematics systems have captured vehicle data in 30-second intervals. Moving to 5-second data intervals provides fleets with much more detailed insight into what actually happens before and during safety events — helping safety managers better understand risk patterns and improve driver coaching.

Ford Motor Company has launched Ford Pro AI, an artificial intelligence platform designed to improve commercial fleet management for businesses, government agencies, and rental companies. The system analyzes over a billion data points daily from connected vehicles, including seatbelt usage, vehicle health, route efficiency, and fuel consumption, to provide actionable insights that maximize vehicle uptime, enhance productivity, and reduce operational costs. Proactive vehicle health monitoring and data-driven route analysis help minimize downtime and fuel expenses. Ford's commercial subscriber base increased by 30 percent last year, and its software and services are approaching a 20 percent earnings target. Built on Google Cloud and using proprietary vehicle data, Ford Pro AI initially offers a read-only format with plans for expansion based on user feedback. In the previous year, Ford Pro generated $66 billion in revenue and $6.8 billion in earnings, with a 10.3 percent profit margin. The integration of AI and telematics is expected to diversify Ford's revenue and strengthen its leadership in commercial vehicle solutions, offering analytics that reduce downtime and costs for business owners.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This conversation goes straight at the tension every legacy leader feels but rarely names.How do you build something new inside a company designed for stability?How do you move fast inside a system built to control risk?How do you create urgency without burning out your team?In this episode of the Automotive Leaders Podcast, Jan Griffiths sits down with Ted Cannis, former CEO of Ford Pro and longtime executive at Ford Motor Company.Ted didn't just grow revenue. He helped build an integrated ecosystem of vehicles, software, charging, service, and financing. But this conversation isn't about the numbers. It's about the leadership and culture required to produce them.Ted shares what it really takes to drive change inside a legacy organization. Why data is your most powerful ally. Why shared metrics matter more than motivation. Why speed is a discipline. And why every bold initiative faces what he calls “status quo snapback.”He also makes a surprising admission. He's a self-confessed micromanager. And that opens up one of the most honest leadership moments we've had on the show.This episode is about disciplined change.Not hype. Not slogans. Not transformation theater.Real leadership inside real constraints.Themes Discussed in this EpisodeWhy building inside constraints sharpens leadershipThe power of going to the gemba instead of managing from the conference roomUsing data to win enterprise-level changeHow shared metrics break down silosWhy speed requires preparation, not chaosThe danger of “sketchy scoping” in big strategic betsWhat “status quo snapback” looks like inside legacy organizationsCan micromanagement and authentic leadership coexist?Watch the full episode on YouTube - click hereThis episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn moreFeatured GuestTed Cannis is the former CEO of Ford Pro, where he scaled the business to $67B in revenue and $9B EBIT by integrating commercial vehicles, SaaS, charging, service, and financing into one global ecosystem.Across a 30+ year career at Ford Motor Company, Ted led global electrification strategy, investor relations, and international operations. He is known for combining operational discipline with enterprise-level vision and has been featured in CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes.Today, he serves as a strategic advisor and board-level collaborator across mobility, energy, and technology ventures.About Your Host – Jan GriffithsJan Griffiths is a champion for culture transformation and the host of the Automotive Leaders Podcast. A former automotive executive with a rebellious spirit, Jan is known for challenging outdated norms and inspiring leaders to ditch command and control. She brings honesty,

Videopodcast especial de Ford Pro donde analizamos la eficiencia energética de estas dos compañías y sus metas para los próximos años.

Marta Henríquez, directora de Ford PRO España y Portugal, revela las claves del éxito de la marca tras 11 años liderando el mercado europeo de vehículos comerciales.

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1266: Ford posts its biggest earnings miss in years but bets big on a 2026 rebound. Robotaxis scale nationwide while public trust hangs in the balance. And NADA partners with Northwood to strengthen the next generation of dealership leadership.Ford just posted its biggest quarterly earnings miss in four years and its worst net loss since 2008. But beneath the headline loss, the company's trucks and commercial vehicles are still carrying the load—and 2026 is being framed as a rebound year.The Q4 adjusted EPS (Earnings Per Share) came in at 13 cents versus the expected 19 cents, the largest miss in four years.Revenue remained strong, with $45.9B in Q4 and a record $187.3B for the full year, but about $900M in unexpected tariff costs and aluminum supply disruptions pressured margins.The company reported an $11.1B net loss in Q4 and an $8.2B loss for the full year, largely driven by $15.5B in EV-related special charges and restructuring actions.Ford Pro and Ford Blue have projected 2026 pre-tax earnings of up to $7.5B and $4.5B respectively, while the Model e unit is expected to lose up to $4.5B.CFO Sherry House noted that the Novelis aluminum plant disruption is not expected to fully resolve until mid-2026, meaning the company will continue sourcing alternative supplies at a higher cost.Waymo, Tesla, Zoox and others are racing to scale robotaxis across the U.S., but recent crashes and investigations show that winning public trust may be harder than winning market share.A Waymo vehicle struck a child who ran into the street from behind a parked SUV in California, prompting a federal investigation. Zoox also reported a crash after a driver opened a door into its path. Both companies say their systems reacted appropriately.A majority of Americans say they're unlikely to try a self-driving taxi, though younger consumers are more open to the idea.“When something goes wrong, people don't experience it as a statistical issue — they experience it as a moral and emotional one,” said Professor William Riggs.Northwood University and NADA are teaming up to expand education access for franchised dealers, their employees and their families — with discounted tuition, scholarships and a clear focus on building the next generation of dealership leadership.NADA dealer members can enroll in Northwood's online undergraduate programs at $350 per credit hour, with the benefit extending to eligible spouses and dependents.Northwood's DeVos Graduate School is offering 20% MBA tuition scholarships, discounted master's programs and up to $15,000 toward a Doctor of Business Administration.Both organizations say the goal is strengthening the leadership pipeline in a people-driven, capital-intensive retaiJoin 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/

This Automotive Fleet on the Move episode takes viewers to the 2025 Fleet Forward Conference's closing keynote, where Ted Cannis cut through the noise around electrification, tariffs, and technology hype to focus on what's ahead for fleets. The former head of Ford Pro sat down with Automotive Fleet's Chris Brown at the conference to discuss his experience leading EV programs, navigating Wall Street expectations, and working with major fleets in New York and around the world. Cannis shared how every fleet must build its own playbook rather than follow retail trends.

- Tesla Tantalizes Elon with $1 Trillion Salary - Gen 2 Lucid Equals ½ Parts Count of Tesla Model Y - Rivian Laying Off Workers to Cut Cost - EU Truck Makers Want Help Meeting ZEV Mandates - BMW CEO Calls EU 2035 ICE Ban “Big Mistake” - BMW iX3 Bristles with Innovation   - Ford EV Charging Pilot Reduces Energy Consumption - Mercedes GLC Gets Huge Display Screen - China Eyes Ban on Retractable Door Handles - Hyundai Palisade Bigger, Overlanding Capable

- Tesla Tantalizes Elon with $1 Trillion Salary - Gen 2 Lucid Equals ½ Parts Count of Tesla Model Y - Rivian Laying Off Workers to Cut Cost - EU Truck Makers Want Help Meeting ZEV Mandates - BMW CEO Calls EU 2035 ICE Ban “Big Mistake” - BMW iX3 Bristles with Innovation   - Ford EV Charging Pilot Reduces Energy Consumption - Mercedes GLC Gets Huge Display Screen - China Eyes Ban on Retractable Door Handles - Hyundai Palisade Bigger, Overlanding Capable

Episode SummaryKevin Dunbar joins Maribel Lopez to discuss how AI is revolutionizing commercial fleet management through Ford Pro Intelligence. With nearly two decades of experience at companies like Cisco and Palo Alto Networks, Kevin shares insights on how Ford's commercial division is processing over a billion data points daily to help fleet operators optimize operations, reduce costs, and improve safety.AI with Maribel Lopez: Transforming Fleet Management with Kevin DunbarGuest: Kevin Dunbar, General Manager of Ford Pro IntelligenceHost: Maribel Lopez, Founder of the Data for Betterment Foundation and Lopez ResearchKey Topics CoveredFord Pro Intelligence PlatformCommercial division serving business and government customersComprehensive ecosystem from vehicle upfitting to fleet managementData services, telematics software, and fleet controlsUpdated from last earnings to 757,000 and 24% yoy growth. (vs. 675,000+ subscribers with 20% growth rate.)Data at ScaleProcessing over 1 billion connected vehicle data points dailySensor data ranging from tire pressure and GPS to seatbelt activity and driver behaviorClean, structured data transformation into actionable insightsAI Applications in ActionDigital vehicle walkarounds replacing 20-minute manual processesPredictive maintenance moving customers from reactive to proactive serviceE-switch assist tool using machine learning for electrification decisionsConnected uptime system achieving 98% vehicle availabilityTangible Business Impact10% reduction in insurance costs through safer driving coaching20% improvement in driver safety metrics25% reduction in speeding incidents80% reduction in cost downtime10-20% total cost of ownership reductionNotable Quotes"We want to make sure that their Ford vehicle works as hard for their business digitally as it does mechanically." - Kevin Dunbar"It's not just about having data. It's about having clean, structured data." - Kevin DunbarFor more episodes of "AI with Maribel Lopez," visit Lopez Research and follow our latest insights on AI transformation across industries.About Ford  Pro and Ford Pro IntelligenceFord Pro is helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Ford Pro Intelligence is Ford's comprehensive solution for fleet digitalization and operational efficiency, combining connected vehicle data, telematics tools, and smart management software under one platformFollow Kevin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-dunbar-78343558/Follow Maribel at https://www.linkedin.com/in/maribellopez/#FordProIntelligence #FordPro #FleetManagement #Fleets  #DataSecurity 

- Canada vs. U.S. Traffic Fatality Rates - Ford Posts $36 Million Q2 Loss - Ford Cuts EV Programs to Feed ICE - Could U.S. Tariffs Be Illegal? - Tariffs Hit Denso Profits - ZF to Accelerate Restructuring - Renault Makes Head of Purchasing the CEO - Honda Prelude Sneak Peek - IVECO Sells Truck Business to Tata - Mercedes Seizes 1.5 Million in Fake Parts

- Canada vs. U.S. Traffic Fatality Rates - Ford Posts $36 Million Q2 Loss - Ford Cuts EV Programs to Feed ICE - Could U.S. Tariffs Be Illegal? - Tariffs Hit Denso Profits - ZF to Accelerate Restructuring - Renault Makes Head of Purchasing the CEO - Honda Prelude Sneak Peek - IVECO Sells Truck Business to Tata - Mercedes Seizes 1.5 Million in Fake Parts

In this episode of State of the Fleet Industry, ChrisBrown speaks with Ted Cannis, former CEO of Ford Pro, about what fleets are overlooking right now and what they need to do to prepare for the next wave of disruption. Based on his experience building Ford Pro into a $70 billionoperation, Cannis shares practical insights on connected vehicle data, AI, and electrification. The conversation also previews his closing keynote at the 2025 Fleet Forward Conference.

Bonnie Tinder is the founder and CEO of Raven Intelligence, an independent B2B peer review site that amplifies the voice of the customer. She focuses on software customers, consulting partners, and software vendors and helps identify the best partners for their needs. In this episode, Bonnie shares insights from a recent Salesforce event, exploring how AI agents, data clouds, and robotics are reshaping customer experience, software implementation, and enterprise transformation.Episode 52 | AI Agents in ActionThe Big Themes:Campaigns Are Out, Conversations Are In: Marketing is undergoing a radical transformation. Gone are the days of mass email blasts and no-reply addresses. Instead, AI is ushering in a new era of real-time, personalized engagement. Salesforce is leaning into this shift with tools that replace one-way campaigns with dynamic conversations. AI agents now tailor interactions based on behavior, preferences, and real-time context, fostering true customer intimacy at scale.Unified Data Is the Bedrock of Smart AI: No AI strategy can succeed without clean, connected data. Salesforce's Data Cloud addresses what SAP calls the “swivel chair problem” — when teams toggle between disconnected systems to piece together a customer story. AI agents can't operate effectively if data is fragmented or siloed. That's why Salesforce is investing in tools that unify sales, marketing, support, and financial data, giving AI a full-picture view of the customer journey.AI Agents Are Already Delivering Real Results: AI isn't theoretical anymore — it's working in the wild. Bonnie pointed out two standout cases: University of Chicago Medicine and Ford Pro. In healthcare, Agentforce transformed an outdated, frustrating appointment system into a streamlined digital process, improving both efficiency and patient experience. At Ford, AI agents guide customers to ideal vehicle matches with minimal input, keeping users on-site and increasing conversion.The Big Quote: “I think that buyers are looking more at the execution and fit of software, as opposed to the software brand itself. And I would say that that is a shift in the last year or so, especially now with the advent of AI and just the rapid pace that everything is moving so, less on brand, more about how are you going to offer me the complete solution and break down silos of data?” More from Bonnie Tinder:Connect with Bonnie on LinkedIn or send a message via her Acceleration Economy Analyst page. Visit Cloud Wars for more.

Send us feedback or episode suggestions.What does it take to transform 121 years of automotive legacy into a modern digital ecosystem? Catherine Dubut, Director of Global UX Strategy at Ford Pro, joins Chris Strahl to share how her team is reengineering the organization's fragmented product landscape into a scalable, unified digital assembly line.With over 80 legacy sites, 20+ global markets, and deeply siloed teams, the scale and complexity of Ford Pro's challenge was immense. Catherine explains how her team brought structure to chaos—combining elements from outdated systems, building new foundations where needed, and stitching them together into a single, coherent design system. From establishing governance and cross-functional collaboration to introducing micro frontends and scaling adoption, this episode offers a playbook for modernizing UX at enterprise scale.Key themes:Designing for fleets, not just drivers—multiple users, journeys, and roles per customerReplatforming 80+ tools across legacy systems and international business unitsBuilding a design system through consolidation, extension, and future-proofingUsing micro frontends to bridge disparate tech stacks across Ford ProMeasuring success through design efficiency, team adoption, and developer alignmentView the transcript of this episode.Check out our upcoming events.If you want to get in touch with the show, ask some questions, or tell us what you think, send us a message over on LinkedIn.GuestCatherine Dubut is Director of Global UX Strategy at Ford Pro, the commercial business of Ford Motor Company. She oversees a global team of individual contributors and managers across design, user research, information architecture, and content strategy. Catherine is a seasoned UX leader with a track record of designing impactful experiences, driving UX practice maturity, and digital transformation at dynamic brands at places like Samsung Electronics, REI, and Intuit. Based in Seattle, Catherine's been involved in design community activities including organizing local events, mentoring underrepresented UX professionals, public speaking, and writing. She enjoys exploring cities, outdoors, architecture, and other adventures with her husband, daughter, and terrier mix rescue.HostChris Strahl is co-founder and CEO of Knapsack, host of @TheDSPod, DnD DM, and occasional river guide. You can find Chris on Twitter as @chrisstrahl and on LinkedIn.SponsorSponsored by Knapsack, the design system platform that brings teams together. Learn more at knapsack.cloud.

Tune in to hear details on Ford Pro services, including a fleet management program, software tracking solutions, repair services, purchasing, and more.

For years, Tesla has been the go-to EV recommendation for “normals” looking for a painless, low-effort experience from their first electric cars, but Elon Musk's political antics are causing people to shop elsewhere. On today's episode of Quick Charge, we'll discuss some options ... and how you might be able to pay for them! Speaking of Tesla alternatives, the Ford F-150 Lightning is the electric truck sales king once again, while the E-Transit van is now selling for the same (or less) than the gas version and Ford Pro launches a new incentive consulting service to help you pay for them. Source Links Opinion: it's time to start recommending some Tesla alternatives [update] Ford F-150 Lightning retakes America's best-selling electric pickup crown Click here to find great deals on an F-150 Lightning near you. 2025 Ford E-Transit electric costs the same or less than the gas version Click here to find great deals on a new E-Transit van near you. There's plenty of EV money out there – and plenty of people to help you find it! Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We'll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don't miss a minute of Electrek's high-voltage daily news. Got news? Let us know!Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show. If you're considering going solar, it's always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it's free to use, and you won't get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.  Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you'll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

En este episodio analizamos entre otras cosas, los enfoques del "coffee can portfolio" y la filosofía de mantener acciones o activos por décadas, con sus pros y contras. Comentamos la actualidad de los mercados y respondemos a las preguntas de la comunidad. Este episodio es posible gracias al patrocinio de Ford, con su gama Ford Pro. Descubre más en www.ford.es

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1037: Today we break down Ford's Q1 fallout as tariffs cast a $1.5B shadow, electrified vehicles surge to nearly 25% of new-car sales led by hybrids and non-Tesla EVs, and Waymo revs up its driverless ambitions with a new Arizona mega-factory and major city expansion plans.Show Notes with links:Ford is bracing for a bumpy ride in 2025 after revealing a steep Q1 net income drop and pulling its full-year earnings forecast. Mounting tariff costs and factory downtime from SUV redesigns weighed heavily on the automaker's performance, with more uncertainty ahead.Net income fell 65% to $471M.Ford expects 2025 tariffs to cut profits by $1.5B, despite $1B in planned offsets.CFO says Q1 tariffs cost $200M, mitigated partly by bonded carrier routes through Canada.Ford Pro earned $1.3B (down 56%); Model e lost $849M despite a 15% EV sales bump.CEO Jim Farley: “We are strengthening our underlying business with significantly better quality and our third straight quarter of year-over-year cost improvement, excluding the impact of tariffs.”Electrified vehicles accounted for nearly one in four new-car sales in Q1 2025, as hybrids led the growth and Tesla's dominance continued to wane. Buyers are moving fast—whether driven by rebates, tariffs, or just better options.EV sales hit 750,698 in Q1, up 29.6% YoY, with total electrified market share reaching 24.4%.Hybrids surged 44.1%, capturing 13.3% of all new-car sales, thanks largely to Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Ford, Lexus, and Kia—who together own 97% of the segment.Tesla's BEV share dipped to 44.2%, while non-Tesla BEVs jumped 47%.Florida EV sales rose 42.5%, while Texas surged 37.1%, outpacing growth in traditional EV strongholds.“A significant part of it is due to automakers tapping into what drivers want. The 2025 lineup offers 71 unique models (up from 54 in 2025) with improved specs and options for every lifestyle." said Recurrent's Liz Najman. Waymo is transitioning from test phase to mass production, expanding its ride-hailing footprint while anchoring its future with a high-capacity, AV-focused factory in Arizona.Waymo One now handles 250,000 weekly rides across Phoenix, LA, SF, and Austin with expansions into Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, D.C. planned in 2026A 239,000-square-foot factory in Mesa, AZ will build thousands of autonomous Jaguars annually, in partnership with Magna.The facility will feature a fully automated line and produce vehicles with Waymo's latest sixth-gen Driver tech.“The Waymo Driver integration plant in Mesa is the epicenter of our future growth plans,” said Ryan McNamara, Waymo's VP of operations.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/

- Trump to Hit Canada, Mexico With Steel and Aluminum Tariffs - Big Shakeout About to Begin in China - EU OEMs Get Some CO2 Relief, Sorta - Nikola Teetering on Bankruptcy - Russians Complain of Crummy Chinese Quality - DeepSeek Taking China Cars by Storm - Nio Battery Swapping Almost Profitable - Renault-Volvo Unveil EV Vans - Ford Launches New Tech to Help Delivery Drivers

- Trump to Hit Canada, Mexico With Steel and Aluminum Tariffs - Big Shakeout About to Begin in China - EU OEMs Get Some CO2 Relief, Sorta - Nikola Teetering on Bankruptcy - Russians Complain of Crummy Chinese Quality - DeepSeek Taking China Cars by Storm - Nio Battery Swapping Almost Profitable - Renault-Volvo Unveil EV Vans - Ford Launches New Tech to Help Delivery Drivers

On today's episode of Quick Charge, Southern Company's Tom Canada talks us through the utility's new, six-month pilot program that aims to overcome some of the perceived barriers to EV adoption by demonstrating the transformative potential of EV adoption in commercial fleets. Developed in partnership with Ford Pro, the Southern Company pilot will see more than 200 F-150 Lightning trucks incorporated into the utility's existing vehicle fleet, will leverage pricing signals and demand response to evaluate the impact of cost-effective charging within a fleet environment while demonstrating the efficiency of using established charging depots. In addition to exploring the cost-savings of EV vs. ICE, the pilot will also explore the use of software to automate charging schedules, which would enabling customers to charge at times that minimize both their electricity costs and reduce any potential strain on the electric grid. Tom Canada, a Southern Company sr. account manager who's been leading the charge on fleet electrification, joins us on today's episode to tell us more. Source Links Ford announces $7,500 Fleet Discount on F150 Lightning (but wait, there's more) EV or gas – which is right for you? A new tool from Ford Pro has answers! 2025 Ford E-Transit electric costs the same or less than the gas version As always, Apple celebrates Martin Luther King Jr Day Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We'll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don't miss a minute of Electrek's high-voltage daily news.

Ford Power Promise for EV Cars w/ Becca Anderson   AZ TRT - S05 EP40 (256) 10-13-2024   What We Learned This Week: Ford - Classic Car Company with 100 Years + History EV Car adoption is a growing trend Battery Charging at Home + on the Road Software & Service is part of the Ford Promise on new EVs F150 & Mustang Models are available as EVs   Guest: Becca Anderson Senior Director Ford e Customer Experience LKIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becca-anderson-cxdirector/ https://www.ford.com/electric/   In the early days of the personal auto, Americans wanted and needed the convenience, peace of mind and expert service of full-service filling stations. After taking two long all-electric road trips – one through the Western U.S. and the other across Europe – I'm convinced that the new generation of electric vehicle owners and would-be owners are also looking for convenience, peace of mind and expert service. While we've been focused on making public charging easier – including giving Ford owners access to Tesla's Superchargers with an adapter as part of BlueOval Charge Network – we have learned just how important home charging is to overall electric vehicle adoption in the U.S. Nearly 90% of shoppers say they would be more likely to buy an electric vehicle if they knew they could charge at home1. Filling up at home with electricity can be a significant cost save for many owners compared to filling up with gas. Problem is nearly half of them don't know how home charging works1. Where do you buy the charger? Who installs it? What does it cost?   At the same time, we know many electric vehicle customers want 24/7 support from a real person with expertise if they are going to try new technology. Others want assurance on battery life. Yet our industry seems to want to answer these questions in a time-honored way – cash on the hood. Cheap lease deals on electric vehicles are popping up everywhere. Ford believes it will take more than jumbo rebates to truly break through with the estimated 19 million people in the U.S. interested in electric vehicles. It will take – you guessed it – convenience, peace of mind, and expert service. It will take a modern-day version of the friendly filling station, only this time you “fill 'er up” at home. That's the idea behind the Ford Power Promise that we are announcing today. Here are the details:      Home is Where the Charge is: It's simple. Buy or lease a retail Ford Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning or E-Transit and take a complimentary home charger with you or have it delivered, and when you're ready, an expert comes out to install it at no charge for a standard install. This takes the guesswork out of installation, including costs, to help you save time and money by filling up at home. Less stress, more convenience. If you're a Ford Pro fleet customer, we have you covered with a commercial charging cash incentive.   On-the-Road Charging: Road trips don't happen every day, but when you are on the road, you need to know where to fill up. Our BlueOval Charge Network automatically searches for chargers across various networks, including Electrify America and Tesla Superchargers and adds charging stops to your route via the Connected Navigation in the vehicle. With Plug and Charge, you plug in when you get there, and the payment is automatically made via your FordPass account. It's that easy.   Battery Confidence: We're confident in the quality of our batteries, and we want you to be confident, too. That's why we provide an eight-year/100,000-mile high-voltage battery warranty for every Ford electric vehicle. Ford has your battery covered.   Ongoing Support and Guidance: We're dedicated to providing you with the support you need whenever you need it, including complimentary roadside assistance if your vehicle's range runs too low. We're also expanding our 24/7 Ford advisor for electric vehicle support, so you'll be talking or texting with real people. We are here when you need us.   Electric vehicles are an excellent choice for many people. They are fun to drive, quiet and smooth on the road. They can help save you time and money on gas. And for the first time in a long time, filling up just got easier. Now, if I can just get one of my kids to squeegee my windshield.       Notes: Ford Power Promise for EVs with 24/7 support and a Battery warranty of 8 years / 100K miles Customers exploring EV car purchase ask about charging, time to charge, battery life, service Qs, and convenience Home Installation of charging station thru Ford Dealer Long range trips are trips of 150+ miles Range can depend on trips, and weather, Ford can give estimates Ford Evs have extended range batteries Tesla Adaptor for charging Ford Evs, can use Tesla charging stations Charging flap for plugin similar to traditional gas valve Ford Dealers train and help customers on using EVs + educational content on Ford University Ford Dealers can service all types of vehicles, including EVs Ford promoting the EV Lifestyle + service for the car and software support with auto updates Customers interest in EVs is growing and new buyers are getting used to the vehicle Range Qs for EVs are being answered with more public charging in major cities and nationwide EVs have a range meter with gives the data for charge status and miles left 0% Charge – Ford has 24/7 roadside support in worst case scenarios         If you enjoyed this show, you may like:  BRT Marketing: HERE BRT Business: HERE    Investing Topic: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Investing-Stocks-Bonds-Retirement     ‘Best Of' Topic: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Best+of+BRT     Thanks for Listening. Please Subscribe to the BRT Podcast.     AZ Tech Roundtable 2.0 with Matt Battaglia The show where Entrepreneurs, Top Executives, Founders, and Investors come to share insights about the future of business.  AZ TRT 2.0 looks at the new trends in business, & how classic industries are evolving.  Common Topics Discussed: Startups, Founders, Funds & Venture Capital, Business, Entrepreneurship, Biotech, Blockchain / Crypto, Executive Comp, Investing, Stocks, Real Estate + Alternative Investments, and more…    AZ TRT Podcast Home Page: http://aztrtshow.com/ ‘Best Of' AZ TRT Podcast: Click Here Podcast on Google: Click Here Podcast on Spotify: Click Here                    More Info: https://www.economicknight.com/azpodcast/ KFNX Info: https://1100kfnx.com/weekend-featured-shows/   Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the Hosts, Guests and Speakers, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent (or affiliates, members, managers, employees or partners), or any Station, Podcast Platform, Website or Social Media that this show may air on. All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes. Nothing said on this program should be considered advice or recommendations in: business, legal, real estate, crypto, tax accounting, investment, etc. Always seek the advice of a professional in all business ventures, including but not limited to: investments, tax, loans, legal, accounting, real estate, crypto, contracts, sales, marketing, other business arrangements, etc.  

Shoot us a Text.Happy Thursday! Today Paul's back and we cover stabilizing dealer profits, GM & Ford helping Fleet customers transition to the EV lifecycle, and Apple's newest beta features available now.Show Notes with links:New data from the Presidio-NCM benchmark shows the sharp drop in dealership profits may be stabilizing after a tough year. Average dealership pretax profits dropped 30.4% in 2024, but this is an improvement from earlier declines.Used-vehicle margins showed improvement, while new-vehicle margins continued to shrink.Fixed-operations performance helped offset declining overall profitability.George Karolis of Presidio Group notes, "The improvement... is the strongest indicator yet that retail automotive's profit tumble could end up stabilizing."GM and Ford are rolling out new tools to help fleet operators make a smooth transition to electric vehicles, addressing concerns about cost, charging, and business impact.GM's “EV Starter Kit” helps identify EV-suitable drivers and routes, offering home charging solutions.Ford's “E-Switch Assist” analyzes vehicle usage to suggest which can be replaced by EVs.Ford's tool has analyzed over 38,000 vehicles, finding 53% suitable for EV replacement.GM provides telematics and OnStar analytics to support businesses with cost comparisons.“Our solutions are aimed at making this transition easier and potentially reducing the total cost of ownership,” said Nate McDonald, Ford Pro's EV brand manager.Apple's iOS 18.2 developer beta introduces advanced AI tools and enhanced integration with ChatGPT, expanding the capabilities of Apple's ecosystem.Developers can now access tools like Genmoji and Image Playground for image and emoji generation.Visual Intelligence allows users to search using their camera on iPhone 16 models.AI-powered writing features and expanded regional support are part of this release.ChatGPT integration is set to enhance user interactions on Apple devices.Apple Intelligence will continue rolling out in stages, with Siri's screen-aware actions yet to arrive.Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle MountsierGet the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/ Read our most recent email at: https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email

On today's spooky episode of Quick Charge, Tesla backtracks on the Cybertruck range extender, Ford updates the Mustang Mach-E, and you can now volunteer to help get people to the polls in an electric vehicle. We've also got a pickup truck dressed like an SUV, an important update for Ford owners on the Tesla Supercharger network, and some news on who you might be able to sue if you get sick due to air pollution. Source Links Real life transformer: This Chinese EV shifts from an SUV to a pickup for just $28,000 Tesla delays Cybertruck's range extender, reduces its range 2025 Mustang Mach-E drops with heatpump, smaller frunk, $36K price, more click here to find local deals on 2024 Mustang Mach-E EV or gas – which is right for you? A new tool from Ford Pro has answers! Ford is replacing some NACS adapters sent to EV owners EV owners volunteer to drive voters to the polls in 11 states (and you can too) EU citizens can sue over health problems caused by missed emissions targets Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We'll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don't miss a minute of Electrek's high-voltage daily news! Got news? Let us know!Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show! Read more: Elon Musk delusionally believes Trump support is not affecting Tesla, claims sales are at ‘all-time highs'

On today's educational episode of Quick Charge, Ford Pro cross vehicle brand manager Nate McDonald is here to tell us about a new fleet management tool that can help give fleets a better answer to that modern question: When is the right time to electrify? If you have a commercial fleet and are interested in transitioning some or all your vehicles to EVs, how and when is the right time to do it? That's the question that Ford wants to help its commercial customers answer with a new tool from Ford Pro called E-Switch Assist. E-Switch Assist is a complimentary software offering that takes telematic data from existing gas- and diesel-powered Ford F-150 and Transit models and trackes each vehicle's individual energy use to determine if it's a good candidate for replacement with an EV. The results? After evaluating over 38,000 commercial vehicles in pilot programs, the E-Switch Assist tool revealed that nearly 53% of all commercial ICE-powered Ford F-150 and Transit vehicles are either "Highly Likely Eligible" or "Likely/Potentially Eligible" to switch to electric power without disrupting the business based on their current usage. "Smart tools informed by data like E-Switch Assist are opening up many new conversations with our commercial customers large and small about EV readiness; we're already using E-Switch Assist regularly in consultations to help organizations determine if electric trucks and vans are right for them," said Nate McDonald, EV strategy and cross vehicle brand manager at Ford Pro. "The importance of these tools and technologies goes beyond selling a customer a new vehicle—it changes mindsets about whether electric vehicles will work for their business while potentially saving them time and money." Nate McDonald is joining us on today's show to help walk us through it. Enjoy! Source Links Ford Pro E-Switch Assist Ford is paying dealers up to $22,500 to sell F-150 Lightning models through a new program click here for local deals on Ford F-150 Lightning click here for local deals on Ford E-Transit Ford offers Ram drivers up to $2,000 off to switch to the F-150 Lightning pickup Ford is giving EV buyers a free home charger and more as part of its new ‘Power Promise' Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We'll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don't miss a minute of Electrek's high-voltage daily news! Got news? Let us know!Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

In sports and music it's Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. In music alone it's Beyonce and Jay-Z. And in the world of pro wrestling, the biggest power couple is Bianca Belair and Montez Ford. “What a time it was,” recalled Ford about when he arrived in NXT at their Orlando studio in 2015. A year later he met his future bride, Belair. “In that first year I was at NXT in developmental learning myself as a WWE Superstar.” “NXT is not just close to our heart because of wrestling,” said Belair. “It's close to our heart because we met each other. So our life started in wrestling in NXT and our life together in NXT.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shoot us a Text.Is it already the end of another week? We're looking back this morning as we look at buy/sell activity from the first half of the year, reflect on the legacy of Ford Pro CEO Ted Cannis, and dig into how discretionary spending is on the rise.The first half of 2024 has shattered records in the dealership buy/sell market. With 204 dealership transactions completed and 381 franchises sold, this is nearly double pre-pandemic levels. So, what's fueling this surge?Blue sky values are up 74% from pre-pandemic, driving sellers to cash out.Despite a 35% drop in average earnings, consolidation continues strong as multi-dealership sales (55 transactions) account for 27% of the market.Public dealer groups have $7.4B in capital, driving the frenzy.Shout out to all of our friends at Lithia & Driveway, Morgan Auto Group, Ciocca Automotive, Ourisman Automotive Group, Nucar Family of Dealerships, Hudson Automotive Group, Premier Truck Group, just to name a few of the many auto groups who have gained new partners this year.A Kerrigan Advisors report reveals, "This unprecedented market activity highlights the industry's ongoing transformation."Ted Cannis, CEO of Ford Pro and key architect of Ford's commercial vehicle division's success, is set to retire at the end of September. His leadership helped Ford Pro become a $70 billion business within just a few years.Cannis led development of the Mustang Mach-E and had key roles in Ford's overseas operations.Ford Blue President Andrew Frick will serve as interim Ford Pro CEO while a replacement is sought.Ford Pro's earnings forecast was raised by $1 billion, expected to reach $9-$10 billion for 2024.CEO Jim Farley praised Cannis' role in driving Ford Pro's success and technological growth.Cannis emphasized Ford Pro's unmatched scale, service, and dealer network, saying "Leading Ford Pro has been the most thrilling chapter of my career, and I'm excited to see its continued growth."Despite continued economic uncertainty and consumer caution, discretionary spending is beginning to show signs of recovery in certain sectors. While overall non-discretionary spending remains strong, discretionary categories like apparel, home goods, and electronics are seeing early signs of a rebound.A Deloitte survey found that discretionary spending was down 18.6% from 2021, while non-discretionary spending rose by 3.3%.Discounters like Dollar General and Ross Stores report that their customers remain focused on necessities, with discretionary spending still soft.However, some categories, including apparel and home improvement, are seeing renewed consumer interest ahead of the holiday season.Target reported a 9% jump in beauty sales during Q2, and Best Buy saw a 6% year-over-year increase in computer and tablet sales.KPMG's Duleep Rodrigo highlighted positive spending trends in areas like trHosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle MountsierGet the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/ Read our most recent email at: https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email

On today's thrilling episode of Quick Charge, we have a heartfelt message from one of the OG Tesla fans, our fearless leader test drives the all-new Volvo EX90 in California, and I talk through the Ford Pro fleet management solution with its Sr. Product Manager, Mark Poll. We also talk about the Ford Lightning's crazy 160% sales growth last month, Oxford PV's record-setting solar project, and we hear a word from our friends at Volvo CE. Source Links I sold all my Tesla shares (TSLA), here's why Review: Volvo EX90 is a smooth AWD 7-seat luxury kid-hauler Volvo CE | Electric Construction Equipment Ford F-150 Lightning sales surged 160% in August, but gas cars still dominate the total All the EVs (and one PHEV) you can buy with 0% financing this September Ford Pro | Commercial Fleet Vehicles, Services & Telematics Oxford commercializes its 20% more powerful solar panels in the US Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We'll be posting bonus audio content there as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don't miss a minute of Electrek's high-voltage daily news! Got news? Let us know!Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

We regularly hear about eclectic tractors but have you tried an electric truck? Duff Bevill, Founder and Partner and Brooke Parsons, Viticulture Analyst at Bevill Vineyard Management were part of the Ford Pro Pilot Project. They tested the capacity of an electric van, truck towing capabilities, and battery life of electric vehicles during day to day farming operations. The pair discuss the benefits of tracking GPS and maintenance through Ford's Telematics and the things you need to consider when looking to add an electric truck to your fleet.   Resources:         120: Autonomous Drone Vineyard Spraying 219: Intelligent Sprayers to Improve Fungicide Applications and Save Money 225: California's Ban on Autonomous Tractors   Bevill Vineyard Management Farming of the Future: Ford Pro, Sonoma County Winegrowers Join Forces to Electrify Business of Farming Sustainable Farming in Sonoma County Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet   Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year - PODCAST24 Sustainable Winegrowing On-Demand (Western SARE) – Learn at your own pace Vineyard Team – Become a Member Get More Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org.   Transcript [00:00:05] Beth Vukmanic: We regularly hear about electric tractors, but have you tried an electric truck? Welcome to sustainable wine growing with Vineyard Team. Where we bring you the latest in science and research for the wine industry. I'm Beth Vukmanic, executive director. Since 1994, we have brought you the latest science-based practices, experts, growers, and wine industry tools. Through both infield and online education so that you can grow your business. Please raise a glass with us as we cheers to 30 years. [00:00:37] In today's podcast Craig Macmillan, critical resource manager at Niner wine estates with long time SIP Certified vineyard and the first ever SIP certified winery. Speaks with Duff Bevill. Founder and partner. And Brooke Parsons, viticulture analyst at Bevill vineyard management. [00:00:55] They were part of the Ford probe pilot project, where they tested the capacity of an electric van. Truck towing capabilities and battery life of electric vehicles during day-to-day farming operations. The pair discussed the benefits of tracking GPS and maintenance through Ford telematics and the things you need to consider when looking to add an electric truck to your fleet. [00:01:17] . Because you listened to this podcast, you won't want to miss the premier wine growing event of the year, the Sustainable Ag Expo. Enjoy the perfect blend of in-person and online learning. Speak directly with national experts earn over 20 hours of continuing education. And explore sustainable ag. Vendors. It all takes place. [00:01:38] November 12th through 13th, 2024 at the Madonna Inn expo center in San Luis Obispo, California. As a listener to this podcast, take $50 off of your ticket. When you use code podcast 24 at checkout. Get yours today at sustainableagexpo.org. Now let's listen in. [00:01:56] Craig Macmillan: Our guests today are Duff Bevill and Brooke Parsons. Duff is owner of Bevill Vineyard Management in Sonoma County. And Brooke Parsons is Viticulture Analyst with Bevill Vineyard Management. And we're going to talk about the Ford Pro Pilot Project that they're involved in. Thanks for being on the podcast. [00:02:19] Duff Bevill: You bet, man. [00:02:19] We're happy to be here. [00:02:20] Craig Macmillan: So Duff, what exactly is this project? How'd you get involved in it? Give us a little history. [00:02:26] Duff Bevill: Yeah, back in I think it was September, October of 2021. Well, I'm involved with the Sonoma County growers organization and Carissa Cruz, our president and Carissa. [00:02:37] Got a name of somebody to call. And she made a cold call to a Ford motor company. And then I think one more phone call after that. And she got in touch with Ford pro told him what we were interested in doing. Thought whether it was a perfect fit because our sustainability program that we've you know, managed now for more than a decade, well over a decade. [00:02:54] And Ford sent someone from Detroit out here to meet with us over dinner and another representative out of Sacramento that was, I think, a lobbyist for Ford, I can't remember exactly. His role, but both of them came out here and she cold called a couple of us to come and have dinner with his middle of harvest and yeah, we hit it off and she went back to I guess, technically Dearborn and told them back there that we were legitimate and she thought that they should pursue something with us. [00:03:19] So that, that was in September, October, then in November around Thanksgiving. A team from Ford came to meet with us. They want to know size of our fleet of vehicles. They're just trying to get some, to find out how legitimate we might be. And they went back positive. And then the following January, so it'd be January of 2022 Ford came out full blown to Sonoma County, out to the Dutton Ranch. [00:03:43] And we had a big, giant press release. President Jim Farley came out from Ford, all on film, gave a talk and that sort of thing, and it was a big deal. So that really launched, it's really January of 2022. Roughly probably March, I think it was, of 2022, they didn't have the lightened pickup trucks available yet. [00:04:01] That was still, suffering from COVID, you know, and, and Production was down. So , they actually had some Ford vans, electric vans, which they just gave us a try and Brooke she was basically assigned that van and tried to figure out what to do with it. And so we, all collectively came up with an idea on how to use the vans, although you know, they're just not a fit for farming, but we made, we made it work out. [00:04:23] And then I think it was in June, we finally pick up the lightning. So June of 2022, we've got the lightnings. And then what we did was we gave Ford feedback. We met with engineers, either Zoom or in person on a pretty regular basis for the better part of a year. More than a year probably. [00:04:40] Just getting feedback from a farming point of view, you know, from us using vehicles in the field. And each one of the three companies used them differently and to gather information. I personally wanted to drive it so I could see. How it would work if I want to buy more, would actually work for me . [00:04:56] I know one of the other companies used to have their shop mechanics use it and another company had one of their field foreman use it. So all of us really tried something different with it and for different reasons. But anyways, that's how it worked out. And we just fed information back and forth, making recommendations, you know, see if there's any flaws that Came up and we'd report back immediately to them. [00:05:14] We saw something that Could be improved or or ask why it was the way it was that sort of thing [00:05:20] Craig Macmillan: And we're talking about a completely electric vehicle that's designed for farm use Is that right? [00:05:25] Duff Bevill: The concept of ford pro so I got my ford hat on right now the concept of ford pro It's a division that was created to really focus on business people with fleets so farming was a connection I don't think they thought of until we reached out to them. [00:05:42] I think on paper, originally they were looking at the local contractor. You know, the guy was he drove it personally, he was the contractor, or he had a couple carpenters working for him. I think that was probably it initially. Whether they were thinking of farming at all until we reached out to them. [00:05:58] I don't know. They almost certainly weren't thinking of wine grape growing on the west coast. I think that the whole name Ford Pro, it was really targeted to professional business people who would normally have a pickup truck and how they could adapt using electric vehicle. [00:06:15] Craig Macmillan: I wasn't familiar with this until this came up for this episode. Is this product line is, is that commercially available at the time that you approached them? Is it available now? Is it still in kind of a testing state? [00:06:26] Duff Bevill: They weren't available yet, but they were marketing in the summer of for sure the fall, but certainly the summer of 2021. [00:06:33] I saw ads on TV or Something that would pop up on a website. If you're on Googling something else on a Ford pro for a lightning come up for 10 seconds and disappeared on it. It was a little bit of a tease at that point. But I know the one I got or the one that we have now was number one Oh nine. [00:06:48] Craig Macmillan: Okay. [00:06:49] Duff Bevill: I used to kid them asking, tell them I wanted number one, but they wouldn't give it to me. But I got number one oh nine and, they were just beginning to market it you know, shortly after Covid hit. And so they continued to in, in 2021, you know, we were basically all shut down in 2020. [00:07:05] And 2021 was still pretty disastrous, but they were but all their production facilities were shut down. I mean, they came to a halt just like everybody else. So I think they anticipated getting out there, marketing earlier, making it available earlier. But I think the biggest stumbling block was for, I think a lot of manufacturers, they just didn't have the chips from the big chip manufacturer in Hong Kong. [00:07:25] And that was what it boiled down to. I think it was true for all the car companies. Yeah. [00:07:30] Craig Macmillan: Yeah. I remember that. [00:07:31] Duff Bevill: That was, you had to get that out there. And so they had a marketing plan. They created a division. They had a president of the division identified. The marketing team was in place. [00:07:38] All the engineers were shifted to the Ford pro team. You know, we got to meet almost all those people, I could, make a phone call to one of the head engineers anytime I wanted to, or send them a text or an email. [00:07:49] Craig Macmillan: Wow. [00:07:50] Duff Bevill: It was a real interesting experience. [00:07:53] Craig Macmillan: And you said you got a van first, is that right? [00:07:56] Duff Bevill: Yeah, Brooke drove it, yeah. [00:07:57] Craig Macmillan: That got handed over to you, Brooke. What was that like? Did you have experience with electric vehicles prior to that? Did you have experience with vans prior to that? Were you, Pickup truck person. [00:08:05] Brooke Parsons: Good questions. Yes. I had never driven a van much prior, especially for viticultural tasks. Before using the e transit, I used a pickup with a trailer that I would load a four wheeler onto the trailer and the e transit took the place of the trailer and the pickup. So I loaded With a ramp. The four wheeler inside. [00:08:31] Craig Macmillan: Oh, it was a pretty good sized vehicle then. [00:08:33] Duff Bevill: Yeah. A half ton chassis. It was basically F-150 chassis, but the van, you know? [00:08:38] Craig Macmillan: Oh like a panel van. [00:08:40] Duff Bevill: Exactly. [00:08:41] Craig Macmillan: Oh, okay. I was thinking like in a condo van. [00:08:44] This is more like a panel van. You got room to put stuff in. That makes sense. More like a, more like a service truck. [00:08:48] Brooke Parsons: Like a service truck. So I'd open the back of it to load the four wheeler, but I could also open the side to access my tools and whatnot. It was nice. [00:08:59] Duff Bevill: They actually outfitted it with shelving. Which would have been perfect if you were like a plumber or an electrician. But with the shelving it made the bay too narrow that we couldn't even fit the four wheeler and ATVs, so we had to take the shelving out so we could use it for that purpose. [00:09:14] You know, we just substitute trailer and a pickup truck for the van. But how long did you drive that van? [00:09:20] Brooke Parsons: I drove it for one full season, so May or June through the end of harvest. [00:09:25] Craig Macmillan: How did you find that? Cause you see that all the time. You see the truck with the trailer, with the ATV in the back. [00:09:30] How did you find that moving up to a van? Did you find it easier to drive? More difficult? Were you not as confident [00:09:34] Brooke Parsons: I loved it because I didn't have to worry about a trailer and I didn't have to unload it each night to put it in the barn. So I just closed it all up and it was safe inside the van. [00:09:46] If I went anywhere. I felt safe to leave the four wheeler locked inside and it wouldn't be tampered with. It was simple enough to bring back to the shop and charge every day and be ready to go the next morning. [00:10:01] Craig Macmillan: That was gonna be my next question, Brooke. So when you first started with this, did you have any concerns about range? [00:10:05] Duff Bevill: All of us do. [00:10:07] Brooke Parsons: Yeah, that was the number one concern was range. For our operation, we farm all in Sonoma County and in a given day, I wasn't driving more than say a hundred miles in the van and it did make a difference in the range, whether or not I had weight in the vehicle or not, or if I use the heat or not. [00:10:32] I didn't have as much range in the van as the Ford Lightning. And I had to be careful there were a couple of scary moments that I thought I'd have to call Somebody to come get me, but I never ultimately ran out of power [00:10:48] Craig Macmillan: So with a little practice and a little experience, you knew [00:10:51] Duff Bevill: If you were to buy a a ford lightning, I don't know about the other electric vehicles in the ford product line But for sure the lightning you would have a choice of, I think, two different battery packs. [00:11:02] One they refer to, I believe it's just standard. And then they had a second option or an option that would be the extended battery. My understanding at the time, the Ford, pro version of the Ford Lightning came with a standard battery. But when they heard I was, you know, initially I was getting over 300 miles in a charge, I asked them about that and they said let us get back to you. [00:11:22] Well, a week later they got back and said, oh yeah, that's right, we set yours up, or the three, but for sure mine, the one we still have, with the big battery. They sort of custom built that truck. These three are one offs in that first early run of the heavier battery pack, which to me and I suggested this to him, if the marketing is intended to be to the professional business owner driving a pickup truck, I think Ford pro should just be, you have a standard big battery in it for those reasons. [00:11:50] They may do that. I have no idea. You're got a professional driver. He's in there going from. The lumber yard to the job site down to the Supply depot for something else. I would just think that's just based on our habits in the farming industry. [00:12:03] You're shuffling around and it seems to me that'd be a good option, but anyways, It worked out great for me. [00:12:08] Craig Macmillan: So you've been driving the lightning now for a little while, right? [00:12:11] Duff Bevill: I drove it for the first two I guess nine months just so I could assess How I might want to buy more of them for , our operation here. [00:12:19] We buy a couple of pickup trucks every year. I gave , the, pickup to Brooke. So she now drives the pickup cause we turned the van back in. [00:12:25] Craig Macmillan: I figured that might get kicked back to you so Brooke now you've driven the van now you're driving the truck How do you feel about the truck? [00:12:31] Brooke Parsons: It handles better than any vehicle. I've ever driven. I love to drive it. I'm very proud of it and I Like it a lot zero complaints [00:12:41] Craig Macmillan: Even though you have to have a trailer again [00:12:42] Brooke Parsons: Even though I have to have a trailer again, that's okay. [00:12:45] Duff Bevill: It was remarkable how it seemed like it was luxurious riding because the electric horsepower, . That thing is so powerful. One of the things, again, my understanding of the engineers, they redesigned the chassis on it. [00:12:57] So Ford that F one 50 has four wheel, all four corners, independent suspension. Soon as we got to, we put it up on the rack to take a look at the, Technology underneath it. Look at the batteries, you know, you're not touching anything, you're just looking at everything. [00:13:10] And they designed this beautiful cast aluminum suspension for the back end of that truck. That you'd find in a, I don't know, luxurious European automobile, I think. But it's built heavy to handle all that, torque. You know, oh, it's like, I don't know, 800, horsepower when you push the special button on the dashboard, you know, and it's pretty stunning the performance and that's all torque. [00:13:31] That's twisting power. And so the engineers had to design into that thing, something capable of handling that much torque is beautiful. But the point is a four wheel independent suspension just rides beautifully cars heavier. So about a thousand pounds heavier, I think because of the batteries. So the comments, the extra weight. [00:13:47] And a very sophisticated suspension. It's just like a luxury sedan. And you're driving pretty nice. [00:13:52] Craig Macmillan: And so Brooke, you've been driving this truck now, one of the things that has come up around electric vehicles has been the question of horsepower end of torque. [00:13:59] How do you feel this truck performs compared to like, let's say a diesel dually, [00:14:03] Brooke Parsons: It accelerates very quickly, so getting onto the freeway is no problem when it's busy. And the other biggest factor that I notice is braking. You hardly have to brake and it takes a little bit of time to get used to because when you take your foot off of the accelerator, it naturally stops because the engine isn't going. [00:14:29] And you hardly have to use your brakes, which is very nice. [00:14:33] Duff Bevill: When I first got it, my wife had a Prius many, many years ago, and she pretty much drove it right off the lot. The way it was set up from the dealer. Well, I discovered that you could switch to regeneration on electric. So when you did let off the throttle, it would break by regenerating electric motors, regenerate electricity, put it back in the battery. [00:14:52] Well, that's the first thing I did on this lightning. Find that setting I think in the nine months that I drove it I told the guys at Ford I said, I'll bet you I didn't touch the brakes ten times in those nine months [00:15:03] Brooke Parsons: but to answer your question I've only pulled light things behind it and So I haven't really put it to the test in that way. [00:15:13] Craig Macmillan: I was doing a little research on this and I understand that there's like a data collection and management component to this that's attractive. [00:15:19] What can you tell me about that? Have you used that feature? It can tell you about your fleet, I guess? [00:15:24] Duff Bevill: Aside from electric vehicles Ford was really interested in us, Using and learning to use, and hearing back from us, their telematics. That's what they call it, Ford Telematics. [00:15:37] And I think it was initially launched with the Ford Pro division, where you sign up every vehicle in your fleet. We've got like 20 Ford pickup trucks, something like that. If you go back all the way, I want to say like to 2014. [00:15:49] Prior to that, I'm not sure, but for sure, like 2014, the electronics in those vehicles have the capability of just hooking up to the telematic system. The Ford is promoting, and if you get it into your fleet and get your, your vehicles in entered in your fleet, you can monitor them. Of course, like GPS, that's what everybody's doing nowadays, but much more than that, your shop manager could know, have a better use of knowing when it's time for an oil change, you know, we just do it. [00:16:14] We track that kind of stuff, hard copy paper, put a sticker on the dashboard and the drivers relay to us when the mileage number comes up, they notify the shop manager and we schedule for a service. Typically the oil filter change and then in general inspection we inspect the brakes and all that kind of stuff. [00:16:31] With the telematics they have the potential setting up where you could punch in a timeline that you wanted either by the calendar. Like every 12 months on the vehicles that we don't run very much. We do a major inspection every 12 months. And then the ones that actually have the mileage being for somewhere between five and 7, 000 miles, something like that. [00:16:50] Depends on the vehicle. Depends on the tractor or it's a pickup truck or a full size class eight diesel truck. And so all that stuff is available. And one of the pluses and this happened to us. It was a perfect, we've used this as an example. Typically in modern vehicles, the components that fail first are the sensors that measure your NOX exhaust pipes. [00:17:11] Those are the ones that are going bad. Probably because of the heat cycle they go through because of their exhaust pipes, right? So about anywhere between 40, 000 and 60, 000 miles, those are the devices that fail. So one of our foremen called the shop, our shop manager, and said check engine light came on. [00:17:27] I guess he got the code through telematics, identified it as an oxygen sensor, ordered the part. The truck never came back to the shop. It's still out on the job site. We're supposed to be with the crew. He gets the parts ordered. The delivery guys bring the part to the shop that day. And it's interesting how it works is that is the analysis is it is 90 percent likely it's your oxygen sensor. They come up and then when the guy back that night, they bring it right into the shop and change that sensor. At the end of the day, confirmed that that was the part that needed to be replaced. [00:18:00] The next day was back on the job site, all repaired. The only other way around that would have been. Bring it back to the shop. Get your, your analysis device on it, you know, on the onboard computer or mechanic drives out to the job site, does the same thing at the job site. [00:18:16] And then it comes back or it comes out, orders the parts on a telephone or something like that. So it's saves time. There's no doubt about it. And there's a lot more to, manage a lot of the of systems we have already in place Ford doing the same thing with their telematics. [00:18:28] So some of the things Didn't have any added value because we already have that kind of technology, but they were expanding a lot of that technology for fleet management. So that's a real plus. And they were constantly tweaking that in making improvements on the usability of it and that sort of thing. [00:18:44] So that was a big deal. That was a big one. [00:18:47] Craig Macmillan: The fleet management aspect of having an electric vehicle like this with this kind of a technology going into the future could be huge for a farm, could be huge for a management company like yourself that has properties all over the place. That kind of remote diagnostic is really amazing. [00:18:59] The idea of like, Hey, the light's on. Okay, I'll fix it tonight. No problem. [00:19:03] Duff Bevill: Well, the other big plus is when we put that lightning up on the rack, just to take a look at it, you know, we're just kind of noodling through the, , there's no oil to change in an engine. We found one plug access to a transmission on it. [00:19:18] But even the owner's manual says don't touch any of that kind of stuff. You know, they can be serviced, but there's no schedule for servicing. The disc brakes, I don't think you'd ever If you use the vehicle to its maximum value, I don't think you'd ever put brakes in it. There's no transmission transitions made up of hundreds and hundreds of parts. It's not electric motors or a simple, simple mechanical device and the internal combustion engine has hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of parts that aren't there. So it has the potential of being over the ownership timeline of it. [00:19:52] A lot less cost per mile. Even when you, you calculate in your Cost of electricity charge, but we have here and we've got solar panels here too. We already had installed From a number of years ago So we've got sort of that added advantage whether the electric vehicle made a little bit even more sense because we're already kind of using discounted Power [00:20:11] Craig Macmillan: that was going to be my next question. i'm assuming your solar is connected to the grid So it's an offset so you're not islanded, but you still have the, you're generating power on your own. [00:20:20] So you've got onsite power generation to power your fleet to a degree. That's brilliant. Yeah, that's fantastic. I remember years ago people were complaining about diesel engines and friends of mine were like, well, if you build us a solar truck, I'll freaking drive it. I got no problem with that. [00:20:33] Well, here we are. What do you know? It's 30 years later, we have solar trucks, in effect. There has to have been some obstacles to adopting this. Were there some roadblocks or some things you had to learn along the way before you really felt like you were totally comfortable? [00:20:46] Duff Bevill: Well, like I said, I was familiar with a hybrid. [00:20:49] I still drive a hybrid. I drive a hybrid Ford pickup truck now. We had to get a charging station installed. Here at the office and then, you know, there's a decision. Do I do it at home or do the office? I wanted to hear at the office because that's where the fleet is parked and I had to think through, you know, get the one installed and how many more can I have and how many trucks will it eventually service without a major infrastructure redesign. [00:21:11] So we've got that one put in and I, in the process, I had the electrician who was recommended to us. I had him install extra conduits underground. That are dummy right now. I assume we'll, we'll, extend for more pickup trucks. [00:21:25] That was really the big obstacle. And then that's why I drove it because I want to know firsthand exactly what I was up against. I accomplished what I wanted. I want to learn as much as I could about it. Being there, having access to the Ford people, especially the engineers. Was on the fast track of having a better understanding. [00:21:40] I got to talk to the guys who actually, one guy designed the grill, the other guy designed the dashboard. I mean, I was talking to those, [00:21:45] Craig Macmillan: you had access. Yeah. That's, that's pretty amazing. Brooke, what was your learning curve? Like you talked about a couple of things, but were there obstacles that you felt you kind of ran across that you had to figure out, or that could be improvements [00:21:56] Brooke Parsons: just forming the habit of charging. [00:21:57] One time I forgot and. I was responsible for getting people someplace in the morning and it made me nervous. But you do that once or twice and you don't forget. So that was the real only obstacle. When traveling a longer distance, I did have to learn how to find charging stations that work well, are compatible with the lightning. [00:22:25] And Ford is making advances in that area, now partnered with Tesla to use their system. And so that will only improve. But really it's around learning how to use the logistics of electric charging. [00:22:44] Craig Macmillan: Right. And that's true for electric charging. For all of that. And you're right. I think a little bit of practice. [00:22:49] Most of the folks that I know with electric vehicles, they're scared at first, and then they kind of figure it out. Now that you've had a chance to work with this, I think I already know the answer to this question. I mean, there's a question for both of you. When you were looking to your crystal ball, how do you see this technology being applied in the future? [00:23:03] Duff Bevill: Think there's a place for it. I'm not so sure that one type of energy source is going to be the, solution for everything. I think practically, I think it's going to be some kind of a combination of energy sources and I don't discount nuclear. [00:23:14] There's probably a place for everything, certainly in a transition period that that'll work best for all. Electrician put in the the charging station for us. He said, , if everybody's gonna go electric, the package must be solar panels, um, battery storage, either a large battery storage in a community setting, you know, like in a neighborhood or a small city size. [00:23:37] Or you'll have battery storage areas that is appropriate, like maybe at our farm shop. Because we're commercial, we would be a candidate for battery storage, at least for our operation. So you'd have a solution for, you know, we're back to Sonoma County weather conditions again for the first time in quite a few years. [00:23:55] I mean, it's overcast and rainy a lot of days out of the year. If you have solar panels, they're just not going to be working as efficiently and you still have to go to work every day and get your people to work. If you are relying. Let's say exclusively on electric, you've got to have something other than solar panel on the roof [00:24:09] so windmill, solar panels, battery storage, there's some combination of multiple technologies. I just think that's sort of realistic of what it is. Do you want 95 percent of it to be coal? No, none of us do, you know, cause we all know the story there, but is, is there a place for coal for 10 percent of it? [00:24:25] 15 percent of it. Don't know. I have no idea. It's good. I mean, we liked it. It's you know, just, we're not relying on it entirely right now, but we'll phase into it as time goes on. [00:24:33] Craig Macmillan: Well, that was going to be, and and maybe Brookie also can kind of speak to this. I mean, is there a time when there isn't going to be a diesel truck on the farm? [00:24:40] Duff Bevill: We're more concerned about diesel tractors. You know, the evolution went from, steam, you know, the early 1900s. The steam to, and then, you know, both in automobiles and, and on, on the farm, the competition was steam or gasoline because diesel wasn't invented yet. [00:24:58] diesel engine wasn't invented until the 1920s. So turn of the century, 19th and 20th century, it was a competition between steam and gasoline, gasoline won. So gasoline surge forward all the way into the 1930s and with a few exceptions and in the 1940s, but by the 1950s. There was a clear transition that diesel was much, much more efficient, you know, pound for pound and horsepower for horsepower. [00:25:24] I can't even think of where you could buy a gasoline tractor once you got in the 1970s. I'm sure you could still, but it represented a really small percentage. And by the 80s and 90s, it's all diesel.down to almost lawnmower size you can get it John Deere ride along more, you probably have a choice between gasoline and and diesel power to mow the golf course, [00:25:42] that's actually transitioning to electric now too, you know, those, those small ones will plug it in and then mow for two hours, we're not even in the transition part of that story yet. [00:25:52] There's a couple, manufacturers that have electric tractors the, inconvenience of them is really insurmountable right now, but changing batteries at lunchtime in your barn and that kind of stuff, tough. That's, tough technology. [00:26:05] Craig Macmillan: It's still new. Yeah, this is still new. We're still finding our way there. I've talked to people about that topic quite a bit. It'll get better. Yeah, we'll see where it goes. Hey, Brooke, what is one thing that you'd recommend to listeners if they're thinking about adopting electric vehicles for the farm? [00:26:20] Brooke Parsons: Would say be open to trying new things. It expands your mind and. It allows opportunity that would not be there otherwise. And be okay with mistakes. That's how we learn. [00:26:37] Craig Macmillan: That's great advice. I think that's really, really good. Where can people find out more about you at Beville Vineyard Management? [00:26:43] Duff Bevill: Look at our website BevillVineyard.Com Get you right to the, right to the website. [00:26:47] Craig Macmillan: Well, I want, to both for being here. Thanks, Duff, and thanks, Brooke, for being here. [00:26:51] Duff Bevill: Well, thank you for reaching out to us. [00:26:53] Brooke Parsons: You're welcome. Thank you. [00:26:55] Beth Vukmanic: Thank you for listening. Today's podcast was brought to you by Valent. Bio-sciences a leader in biostimulants constantly delivering, cutting edge innovation to maximize their customers yields and ROI. [00:27:14] Their are 40 plus products span the three bio stimulant brands providing solutions for every acre. Make sure you check out the show notes. For links to Bevill vineyard management. Articles on the Ford Pro Pilot project and sustainable Winegrowing podcast episodes. 120 autonomous drone vineyard spring. 219 intelligent sprayers to improve fungicide applications and save money. And 225 California's ban on autonomous tractors. [00:27:44] If you liked the show, do us a big favor by sharing it with a friend subscribing and leaving us a review. That helps us reach more listeners. Like you, you can find all of the podcasts@vineyardteam.org / podcast, and you can reach us at podcast@vineyardteam.org. [00:28:00] Until next time, this is sustainable. Winegrowing with the vineyard team. Nearly perfect transcription by Descript

Shoot us a Text.The dog days of summer are well upon us, and that means a great opportunity to love people more than cars. Today we're talking about Ford and Stellantis's Q2 earnings reports, GM's early EV issues that led to buybacks, and Southwest's shift to assigned seating.Show Notes with linksNot everyone can be GM, as Ford's income dropped 4.5% to $1.8 billion, despite a revenue increase of 6.4% to $47.8 billion, driven by strong commercial vehicle sales. Meanwhile, Stellantis's net income plummeted 48% to €5.6 billion in the first half of 2024, with operating margins falling below 10%.Ford's adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) fell 27% to $2.8 billion as CFO John Lawler cited $800 million in increased warranty expenses due to older vehicle recalls.Ford Pro division shined with $2.6 billion earnings and 15.1% profit margins, while the Model e EV unit reported a $1.1 billion loss.Stellantis struggled the most in North America, including an 18% shipment decline and price pressures.CFO Natalie Knight said “There are operational issues we have had in North America where I think we could have performed stronger,” suggesting measures like output and price cuts, inventory reductions, and cost-saving initiatives to address these operational issues.GM's Ultium vehicles have faced significant issues due to build quality and safety concerns, including fire risk, leading to buybacks and now reentry into the used market at steep discounts.Early 2023 and 2024 Chevy Blazer EVs suffered from software issues, leading to a stop sale, and the Cadillac Lyriq has had less publicized issues around problems with build quality, both leading to buybacksVehicles reacquired by GM in this process do show “Reacquired by Manufacturer” on the vehicle history report.Models like the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV RS and Cadillac Lyriq are now available at significant discounts, sometimes over $20,000 below original MSRP making an impact in the used car market.Southwest Airlines is making significant changes by moving away from its 50 year old policy of open seating. The airline will soon introduce assigned seating and premium options with extra legroom, aiming to appeal to a broader range of passengers and enhance profitability.Extensive testing has taken place, including simulations and employee trials, ensured the new boarding process would not slow down operations.The changes come as Southwest faces profitability challenges and competition from rivals with more extensive networks and high-end offerings.CEO Bob Jordan shared he expects it to generate over $1 billion in additional revenue selling extras like those that allow passengers to board sooner."This is the right change at the right time," stated CEO Bob Jordan, indicating confidence in the new strategy.Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle MountsierGet the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/ Read our most recent email at: https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email

Happy Thursday! Today we cover Ford's stock price recovers due to hybrid sales, Honda invests $12 BILLION in EV supply chain, and automatic refunds when your next flight gets canceled or delayed.Ford's Q1 earnings were released yesterday and sparked an overall optimistic tone as well as a stock price bump as they bumped up their full year free cash flow figure. Ford reports a solid quarterly profit driven by strong sales of work trucks, vans, and a 36% increase in hybrid vehicle sales.Despite a downturn in the EV market, Ford's Chief Executive Jim Farley emphasizes affordable EVs as a future growth area, with potential models priced between $25,000 and $30,000.Ford Pro, the division focusing on fleet services and work vehicles, reported exceptional profitability, contributing significantly to the company's earnings.Ford Blue: $21.8 billion in revenue, EBIT of $905 millionModel e: $100 million in revenue, EBIT loss of $1.32 billionFord Pro: $18 billion in revenue, EBIT of $3.01 billionRegarding the future profitability of EVs Farley said, "We are going to build a sustainably profitable EV business," highlighting lessons learned from pricing strategies that boosted sales of their Mach-E SUV.According to reports mentioned in Automotive News, Honda is set to unveil a significant $11 billion investment plan to establish an integrated EV battery supply chain in Ontario, Canada.This investment includes the construction of an EV battery plant in Alliston and two supplier plants in partnership with South Korea's Posco Future M and Japan's Asahi Kasei.This sets a new high for automotive investment in Canada, trumping the $5B investment by VW, and $7B investment by Sweden based NorthvoltCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other top officials will join Honda's announcement, marking a major expansion of Honda's Canadian operations."This move supercharges our North American electrification efforts," said Jean-Marc Leclerc, Honda Canada President, highlighting the strategic importance of this comprehensive investment.Pretty soon, canceled or significantly delayed flights will mean fast refunds for air travelers as new DOT Regulations Mandate Automatic RefundsAirlines will now automatically refund passengers who don't accept changes or credits for flight cancellations, significant changes, or delays exceeding three hours for domestic and six hours for international flights.The Department of Transportation's new rules also cover refunds for delayed checked baggage and undelivered paid services like Wi-Fi.These regulations, which roll out within the next 6-12 months, aim to simplify the refund process, ensuring passengers receive prompt and automatic compensation."These measures ensure fairness and transparency in air travel, benefiting consumers significantly," the DOT highlighted in their announcement.Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle MountsierGet the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/ Read our most recent email at: https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email

In a recent earnings report, Ford Motor Company offered a detailed examination of their strategic trajectory and financial performance. CEO James Duncan Farley Jr. described the company's strategic decision, established several years ago, to significantly increase production capacity of hybrid vehicles, and to make hybrid technology a pervasive feature across their entire product lineup. This decision led to a substantial increase in production capacity for their newest F-150 model, with their ability to produce 400,000 units, nearly twice their output a few years ago. Farley noted that this capacity expansion was a careful and deliberate decision, which has positioned the company favorably in terms of scale for their suppliers. He further emphasized that most of Ford's hybrid sales in North America derive from trucks, where competition is currently limited.According to the Q1 2024 earnings call, Ford Motor Company's revenue hit an uptick of 3% year-over-year, totaling $43 billion, a figure that, along with an adjusted EBIT of $2.8 billion and an established margin of 6.5%, indicates a notable strength in their financial position.The company has strategically pivoted attention toward commercial trucks, vans, and hybrids, contributing to an increase in volumes, product mix, and profitability, as Ford's management indicated during the call. In line with this strategy, Ford has also diversified into software and service-based offerings via Ford Pro. Additionally, quality enhancements have helped improve customer experience, while reducing warranty costs—claims that were acknowledged by the company during the earnings call.Current consumer trends gravitate toward quality, cost-effective products, and innovative technology. In response to these demands, Ford's expansion into hybrid offerings provides high-quality vehicles at an economical price range, adding an appealing alternative to traditional internal combustion engines in their lineup.The executives conveyed during the earnings call that Ford's future strategy includes continuous investment in the company's key growth areas, such as the Ford Pro initiative and hybrid vehicles, while also refining its electric vehicle business model. The company remains committed to improving quality and reducing costs through efficient industrial processes, which forms a crucial part of their strategic investment plan.Finally, reiterating the company's focus on global expansion and electrification, CEO Farley projected a high single-digit growth in their Model e, primarily driven by the imminent launch of the Explorer in Europe, a comment made during the call.In wrapping up, Ford's earnings call indicates a company that is evolving with calculated strategic decisions and an astute understanding of market demands. Their financial stability provides a basis for them to continue in a direction of growth, financial performance, product and service development, and customer-centric trends. However, as always with such forward-looking statements, they are inherently subjective and should be interpreted in the light of the previous business performance and the broader industry context. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theprompt.email

On Tuesday, February 6th, 2024, Ford Motor Company announced its latest earnings. The company's CEO, Jim Farley, stated during the call, "Last year was a foundational year for our company. The impact of choices made regarding power and powertrains is evident, particularly for the F-Series. Our global hybrid sales increased 20% last year, and we project a further 40% increase this year. In the U.S., we're the number one and two best-selling hybrid trucks, with Maverick taking the lead, making us the third top hybrid brand behind Toyota and Honda." Farley also spotlighted the company's progress with their technology, mentioning, "BlueCruise has surpassed 150 million miles of hands-free use, with quarter-over-quarter growth up by 25%, and the gross margins for both BlueCruise and Ford Pro Intelligence are at 70%-plus." He acknowledged the firm's success in work vehicle production, specifically the new Super Duty, Transit, and Ranger models. In 2023, Ford saw an 11% rise in revenue, reaching an adjusted EBIT of $10.4 billion. The company also presented a healthy financial state with nearly $29 billion in cash reserves and over $46 billion in liquidity, demonstrating its resilience against potential market uncertainties. In 2023, the standout was the Ford Pro division, which includes both hardware and software services. It achieved a doubling of EBIT to $7 billion, attributed to steady demand, a desirable product mix, and a focus on profitability. Farley discussed the division's potential, saying, "This is a robust profitability; we've never had 20% attach rates, 0.5 million units of software with 50% margins. We are only just beginning to concentrate on Pro aftersales, where 20% of the profit is coming from attached services." The earnings call indicated a customer preference towards environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient options, as seen in the strong sales of Ford's hybrid vehicles. Consumer interest in advanced technology and digital connectivity in vehicles is also evident in the popularity of Ford's services such as BlueCruise and Ford Pro Intelligence. Although Ford did not reveal specific future plans or investments, its financial results confirmed the company's dedication to fiscal discipline, shareholder returns, quality improvements, and further development of the Ford Pro business segment. Ford is looking at profitability and cost reduction, with a particular interest in the electric vehicle sector. However, while the company appears to be heading in a positive direction, future prospects can only be ascertained through action and results. For more comprehensive details regarding Ford's strategic direction and future initiatives, refer to the full earnings call transcript or other public company materials. F Company info: https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/F/profile For more PSFK research : www.psfk.com  This email has been published and shared for the purpose of business research and is not intended as investment advice.

Things are looking up this Tuesday as GM and Toyota are doing the Q4 reporting dance. We also talk about a VERY long standing partnership that is going electric, as well as an attentive hiring strategy from a company that has a delicious burrito strategy. It's good news from both GM and Toyota as GM's financial resilience shines despite the UAW strike and setbacks in its Cruise autonomous vehicle division, while Toyota surges to record sales and production, leaving the chip crisis firmly in the rearview GM's net income rose 5.2% to $2.1 billion in Q4, exceeding full-year forecasts, but faced a drop in adjusted pretax earnings and profit margin due to the UAW strike and increased spending on Cruise.Toyota, reported a year of record highs in sales and production, with a 7.2% increase to 11.23 million vehicles globally, buoyed by strong demand in North America and Europe.EVs played a pivotal role for Toyota, with sales of hybrids, plug-ins, and EVs soaring 35% to 3.7 million unitsGM CEO Mary Barra remains optimistic, stating, "I believe GM is well positioned for a year of strong financial performance that will build on everything we accomplished — and learned — in 2023." GM has put profitable EVs at the top of their list for 2024Ford Pro is doing it's part to move the automaker closer to an electric future as they announced a deal to sell over 1,000 EVs to long time partner (almost 100 years!), Ecolab, marking a significant step in Ecolab's commitment toward a fully electric fleet in CaliforniaThe order includes a combination of Mustang Mach-Es and F-150 LightningsThe move is part of Ecolab's broader goal to electrify its North American fleet by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions globally by 2050Ecolab's CEO, Christophe Beck, highlighted the dual benefits of the switch to EVs: enhanced productivity and reduced operational costs, estimating a saving of $1,400 per vehicle annually on fuel.Ford Pro's strategy to provide comprehensive fleet solutions, including charging and vehicle management software, aims to generate over $1 billion in revenue by 2030.Heading into its busiest season (March-May) Chipotle is setting its sights on Gen Z (who make up 73% of its current workforce of 110k, as they are offering unique perks as it plans to hire 19,000 new workersSome of the unique perks include a 4% 401(k) match for employees making student loan payments as well as  a special debit card that  helps cardholders build their creditGen Z's increasing presence in the workforce is notable, with teen employment reaching a 14-year high, indicating a shift in the labor market dynamics.Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle MountsierGet the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/ Read our most recent email at: https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email ASOTU Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/automotivestateoftheunion

In this episode we talk with Tim about electric vehicles and how Ford helps it commercial customers find the right fit for their own needs. 

Welcome to Wednesday as we talk about a big eclectic partnership, a little electric car, and an alliance that attempts to keep AI safe. Show Notes with links:Two major OEMs are both partnering to expand their charging networks across the US. GM is partnering with EVgo and Pilot and Ford will partner with Ecel Energy to provide a total of over 30k charging stations for commercial and residential drivers.GM plans to support the installation of 25 locations and 100 chargers before the end of the year and an additional 200 locations in 2024.The chargers will be co-branded “Pilot Flying J” and “Ultium Charge 360,” reflecting the two companies that will be funding the project.Ford is partnering with Xcel Energy to install 30,000 EV charging ports for fleet customers by 2030.“While other charging providers battle for market share and go through turmoil. Ford is a trusted resource with more than 120 years of experience,” Dave Prusinski, global chief revenue officer at Ford Pro, said. “Yet today we're reinventing ourselves daily and running at startup speeds.”Fans of small Italian vehicles rejoice as a revamped Fiat 500e is set to return to the U.S. in early 2024. The tiny vehicle boasts a 149-mile range, a significant increase from its previous 84 miles.Powered by a 42-kWh lithium-ion battery, the 500e includes a range of driving modes and safety features, like automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist.The little vehicle weighs 3000 pounds and even welcomes drivers with a digital tone that, according to the company, "sets the tone for an immersive Italian experience."Customers can buy the car from the Fiat Live Store without going to a dealership where they can interact with a “Fiat Genius” "The 2024 500e is a modern, tech-forward take on a beloved classic... Try not to smile when you drive this car," says Fiat CEO Olivier Francois.In a significant move for the AI industry, Meta and IBM have joined forces to form the AI Alliance, a collective effort to promote open-source AI development. This initiative includes major partners like NASA, Intel, and Yale University.The Alliance's agenda includes developing benchmarks for AI creation, building a catalog of vetted tools, and advocating their use among developers.Efforts will also be directed towards educating the public and policymakers on AI, along with launching initiatives for safe AI development.Nick Clegg, President of Global Affairs, Meta noted when talking about the desire to have AI be open sourced, "We believe it's better when AI is developed openly — more people can access the benefits, build innovative products and work on safety."Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle MountsierGet the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/ Read our most recent email at: https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email ASOTU Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/automotivestateoftheunion

- Production Blip Cost Toyota $356 Million - EVs Help Drive EU Sales - Chinese OEMs Buying Their Own Cargo Ships - Kia Aggressively Prices EV5 In China - AI Handles 1 Million Questions a Month for GM - Citroen Wants Direct Sales and Fixed Pricing - BMW, Ford and GM Join North Carolina EV Charging Program - Ford Pro Improves AC Charging Unit - BlueCruise Gets German Approval

Tuesday is already moving as we talk about the President's comments about the ongoing contract negotiations between the UAW and Big 3. We also talk about Ford's new executive from Apple and his perspective on putting subscription ready hardware in every vehicle. "I'm asking all sides to work together to forge a fair agreement," President Biden said in a statement as he urged union auto workers and Detroit's Big Three automakers to reach a new agreement before their contracts expire next month.Biden stressed the need for a middle-class-supportive contract amid industry tech shifts, while the UAW, representing 150,000 workers, considers a strike if no agreement is reached by September 14, with UAW President Fain pushing for better wages in talks with Biden and lawmakers.A potential strike could result in significant financial losses for the automakers, with Deutsche Bank estimating a hit of $400 million to $500 million per week of production for each affected automaker.Ford has appointed former Apple executive Peter Stern as president of its new business unit, Ford Integrated Services, to lead the company's customer experience strategy.Stern was vice president of services at Apple and oversaw Apple TV+, iCloud, Apple News+, Apple Books, and Apple Arcade, as well as its ad and cloud servicesStern's team at Ford will unify hardware, software, and services across three units: Ford Blue), Model E, and Ford Pro, while also managing services marketing, the Ford Next venture studio, and "out-of-vehicle" experiences like utilizing car cameras for non-driving activities.“Everyone is so focused on the EV transformation,” Ford Chief Executive Jim Farley said on a call with reporters, “but I keep saying the biggest change in our industry is to go to a digital product and physical services.” He also added that “Our industry is littered with bad choices about subscription services, and that is not the direction we're going in,”Ford reported over 550,000 paying subscribers to its software and services, emphasizing a move away from charging for once-standard items like heated seats.Stern isn't wasting any time: It's going to be 'hardware standard - functionality optional' as Ford is making its hands-free highway driving hardware, BlueCruise, standard on many Ford and Lincoln models, reflecting a broader industry shift towards subscription revenue.On a call with reporters Monday, Peter Stern, Ford's new president of integrated services, said he was not concerned about consumer backlash to charging for software features.Customers can activate BlueCruise at purchase for three years at $2,100, post a free 90-day trial for $800 annually or $75 monthly. Select Lincoln models include four years of BlueCruise in the purchase price.Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle MountsierGet the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/ Read our most recent email at: https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email ASOTU Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/automotivestateoftheunion

We're warming up those weekend engines as we fly into Friday talking about a big opportunity for autonomy in California. We also talk about Ford's plans to profit from pro software as well as the big boom in women's spending over the Summer. Show Notes with links:The California Public Utilities Commission approved GM's Autonomous Vehicle company, Cruise and Waymo can now add cars and charge for rides at any time in San Francisco. This decision paves the way for broader autonomous vehicle operations throughout California and potentially other markets, despite ongoing concerns from residents and city officials about safety and readiness.Despite many advancements, safety concerns persist. San Francisco agencies reported nearly 600 unexpected stops for driverless vehicles and around 50 instances of interference with first responders.Activists in San Francisco have recently disrupted Waymo and Cruise vehicles by placing traffic cones on them to block sensors.Waymo announced plans to start charging for rider-only trips in San Francisco soon, while Cruise's response is still awaited. Both companies have apps with waiting lists for potential riders.According to a top executive, Ford plans to integrate enhanced software into its Ford Pro commercial vehicle business, aiming to increase revenues by $4,000-$5,000 per vehicle in the future.Navin Kumar, CFO of Ford Pro, highlighted that the company will boost revenue through software- and data-driven fleet services, safety/security services, partial vehicle autonomy, and insurance.At a recent J.P. Morgan investor conference, Kumar mentioned that Ford's capability to profit from these services will be amplified mid-decade with the launch of next-gen electric commercial vehicles featuring a new digital "intelligence" platform.By 2026, Ford Pro aims to double the percentage of connected vehicles to around 60% and triple the percentage of vehicles with paid software to approximately 36%.In a show of brutal-pink retail force, women this summer propelled major commercial successes, including the "Barbie" movie, Beyoncé's "Renaissance Tour," and Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour." Their collective spending, dubbed the "women's multiplier effect," showcased the significant economic influence of female consumers in the U.S. economy.The "women's multiplier effect" saw groups of women attending events multiple times, amplifying overall consumption and purchases.Over 80% of ticket buyers for Swift and Beyoncé purchased more than two tickets, and 27% of "Barbie" movie ticket orders were for three or more adult tickets.Despite the significant spending, the motivation for many women was not just entertainment but a sense of solidarity and empowerment.Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle MountsierGet the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/ Read our most recent email at: https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email ASOTU Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/automotivestateoftheunion

It's FRIIIIIDDDDAAYYY, and we're talking about Ford's profits amidst increased caution. We also talk about the complexity of GM's profits and their effects on UAW negotiations as well as a new cosmic concept coming from McDonalds.Ford reported a $1.9 billion net income for the second quarter of 2023, marking a nearly threefold increase from the same period in the previous year. They also increased their overall profit forecast for 2023, but also predicted an additional $1.5 billion loss on EVs due to consumer concerns over pricing and scaled-back production plans.Despite the EV business underperforming, Ford's overall revenue increased by 12% to $45 billion, with the commercial and gasoline-powered vehicle segments making significant contributions.  Ford Pro 15% and Ford Blue 9.2%Adjusted earnings before interest and taxes for 2023 are now projected to be between $11 billion and $12 billion, up from the previous $9 billion to $11 billion estimate. The company also expects an adjusted free cash flow of $6.5 billion to $7 billion.EV production targets have been delayed, targeting a 600,000 EV production run-rate pushed to 2024 from the previous goal of end-2023. The company no longer provides a forecast for when it plans to produce 2 million EVs annually.Despite challenges in the EV market, Ford's CEO Jim Farley assured strong EV purchase consideration among potential buyers, and CFO John Lawler maintained their goal of achieving 8 percent EV margins by 2026.We reported on GM's big earnings earlier this week and it might be getting a little awkward, as strong financial results may complicate ongoing negotiations with the United Auto Workers union. Despite a Q2 revenue of $44.7 billion, GM's forthcoming discussions with the union and investments in electric vehicles may make for a challenging second half.The current four-year contract with the United Auto Workers union expires in September and the last negotiation resulted in a strike that cost GM $3.6 billion.The ongoing inflation and union-related challenges coincide with GM's massive investments in battery factories that pay lower wages and are not unionized, which is a sensitive issue.McDonald's Corp. announced plans to launch a spinoff restaurant brand, CosMc's, in 2024, based on the retro alien mascot CosMc from the 1980s and 1990s. The move follows a recent viral success with the Grimace-themed meal, a tribute to another old company character, which resulted in billions of social media engagements.McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski described CosMc's as a small format concept that maintains the McDonald's DNA but has its unique personality.The announcement coincided with a UFO hearing in the House subcommittee, where it was claimed that the U.S. government possesses unidentified flying objects.Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle MountsierGet the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/ Read our most recent email at: https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email ASOTU Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/automotivestateoftheunion