Ford scraps plans for a three-row electric SUV to focus on hybrids
CBSN
Ford Motor Co. is scrapping plans for a three-row all-electric sport-utility vehicle, saying that it will instead focus on manufacturing hybrids. The shift comes as consumers are growing cooler toward EVs, and instead are expressing more enthusiasm for other types of fuel-efficient vehicles.
The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker said Wednesday its new plan is designed to "speed customer adoption" of more affordable vehicles with longer ranges, amid softening demand for EVs. Ford said it plans to develop a new family of three-row electrified SUVs that will include hybrid technologies.
According to AAA, nearly two-thirds of potential car buyers said they were unlikely to purchase an EV for their next vehicle. The vehicles are pricier than their gas counterparts, and can give drivers range anxiety, or the fear their EV might run out of juice before they can reach a charging station.
