DETROIT — Roughly two-thirds of Ford Motor Co.'s dealer network in the U.S. has opted to participate in a new — and, to some, controversial — certification program governing how dealers handle electric vehicle sales.
Ford CEO Jim Farley, speaking at the Automotive News World Congress downtown Monday, said that 1,920 Ford dealers have enrolled in the Model e program for 2024-2026. Of those that enrolled, the vast majority — 1,659 dealers — opted into the highest level, "certified elite," which gives them full sales and service capabilities and requires a higher investment level. Another 261 dealers opted to become "certified" with full service capability, a cap on how many EVs they can sell, and a lower investment requirement.
Ford has about 3,000 dealers in its franchised dealer network in the U.S. The company will give those that didn't enroll this time around another opportunity to do so in 2025, for another wave that starts in 2027.
