Ford Mustang Mach-E Latest Failure
As its EV business suffers, Ford’s management has increased its attention to self-driving cars, also known as autonomous vehicles. A new test of Ford’s product showed that its technology is deeply flawed.
Ford EV News —China Competition
The non-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released its new “Partial automation safeguard ratings.” Of the 11 systems tested, 14 received a “poor” grade. “Some drivers may feel that partial automation makes long drives easier, but there is little evidence it makes driving safer. As many high-profile crashes have illustrated, it can introduce new risks when systems lack appropriate safeguards.” Insurance Institute president David Harkey told CNN.
Flaws In Two Ford Systems
Two Ford systems were tested. Both run on the EV Mustang Mach-E. The “Ford BlueCruise” and “Ford Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Lane Centering Assist” were installed in 2021 to 2024 models. Each also received a “poor” grade, the lowest grade possible, for “safety features.”
The setback is significant. The Mustang Mach-E has been a terrific failure. It carries the Mustang brand, one of the most famous and revered in the auto industry. Ford decided to put a gas-powered muscle car brand on a crossover EV in the hope that it would jump-start sales. It has not.
Total Mach-E sales through the first two months of 2024 were only 4,225, down 4.2% from a year ago. Mach-E sales problems have become inventory problems for dealers. According to Autoevolution, Ford dealers have started renting out unsold Mach-Es. Ford is also offering 0% financing for 72 months on 2023 Mach-E models.
Ford can’t sell EVs. Now, it can’t sell EVs with self-driving systems.
