--- title: "Ford Asked Dealers to Spend Big Money to Sell EVs. Now It’s Pumping the Brakes" description: "Ford has advised dealers to pause their investments while the automaker tweaks its EV sales certification program." date: "2024-05-21" modified: "2024-05-21" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/ford-asked-dealers-to-spend-big-money-to-sell-evs-now-its-pumping-the-brakes" categories: - "Ford News" - "News" - "News by Brand" --- # Ford Asked Dealers to Spend Big Money to Sell EVs. Now It’s Pumping the Brakes ![]() *Getty* Dealerships have to adapt to electric vehicles just as much, if not more so, than customers. Not only do salespeople need to learn how to educate customers on EVs, but techs need to learn to repair them, and the dealers need to be able to charge them. Many dealers go through expensive overhauls to get themselves ready for upcoming EV models. However, as [Ford]() dealerships are currently undergoing such changes, the Blue Oval is telling them to hold on just a minute. Ford is planning to meet with its dealer council in early June to update its requirements for EV retail, following feedback from previous meetings. "We don't want them to make any decisions between now and the middle of June when you can maybe have a more informed decision-making process based off what we work out with council in the next few weeks," Andrew Frick, president of Ford Blue, the automaker's EV division, told *[Automotive News]()*. "There's a lot that we'll be reviewing." ![]() **Getty** Late last year, dealerships [expressed their lack of trust]() in the brand's build quality and pricing, as well as the plateauing market for EVs at large. During the previous 11 meetings, all of which Ford CEO Jim Farley attended, breakout tables were set up for the dealers to rotate through, expressing their concerns with the brand openly. Everything from floorplan assistance to electric car standards, to Ford Credit changes were discussed, as Ford tries to regain its dealers' trust through open communication. "What was great is that we had candid conversations around every aspect of the business," said Frick. "Nothing was off limits." He also said 93 percent of dealers left the meetings with more trust in the brand than before. Dealers have been asked to invest tons of money into meeting the requirements for EV sales, with some paying up to $1.2 million. [That's difficult to do]() without any indication that such an investment will bear fruit, and EV stock's [piled up at times](). After the upcoming meeting, perhaps dealers will walk away feeling better about making that call. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()