Direct - to - consumer sales (Ford Model E)

[GreatWhiteNorth]

I'm all for bypassing stealerships, ordering a vehicle, guaranteed MSRP pricing, no upselling or price gouging:

https://joinyaa.com/guides/ford-model-e/




I had a good dealership experience, bought mine at MSRP. I feel for those still waiting, and those getting gouged when their Maverick finally arrives at their dealership.

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[olderbudwiser]

Any one who thinks the UAW and Teamsters Union will let this fly. Better hope you get your Maverick soon cause deliveries will come to a complete stop if Ford actually try's this.

 

[Espeer]

Any one who thinks the UAW and Teamsters Union will let this fly. Better hope you get your Maverick soon cause deliveries will come to a complete stop if Ford actually try's this.

Why would they care about the dealership model? Genuinely curious.

 

[olderbudwiser]

Why would they care about the dealership model? Genuinely curious.

The teamsters are the truck drivers for Ford deliveries. The UAW will strike with them / no crossing picket lines.

Example if you want a Tesla in Michigan you can order it but must pick it up in OHIO. Michigan has laws protecting dealers.

 

[2cafn8d]

Dealerships aren't a bad thing, shitty dealerships are. I think the issue that needs to be brought up is shady dealership practices. You want a new car? You order it online, you choose your dealership. These dealerships must be held accountable to a standard that includes pricing.

It's wishful thinking, I don't know if that is even a feasible option. If dealerships were treated the same across the board with ALL models, then I don't think allocations and big dealerships luring people would matter if everyone was the same. Then perhaps they could go with a first ordered, first built approach based on commodities and not allocations.

 

[bpcooper14]

From what a dealer buddy of mine has told me, dealerships make most of their money on the service department and the used car segment they have on the lot. New car sales are nice but that market is less "subjective" than used cars and maintenance services. Either way, if car manufacturers can iron out the build to sale model in a faster timeline, I think it's viable and dealerships are all going to go under, they just reallocate resources to the two more lucrative areas.

 

[Espeer]

The teamsters are the truck drivers for Ford deliveries. The UAW will strike with them / no crossing picket lines.

Example if you want a Tesla in Michigan you can order it but must pick it up in OHIO. Michigan has laws protecting dealers.

Got it. I was just thinking about the people who make the cars. I guess they could still use the same people to deliver them, maybe just to your house instead of the dealership.

 

[atomguy245]

Direct to consumer really isn't up to Ford. Most states have laws against it, requiring the dealership sales model.

 

[GreatWhiteNorth]

Direct to consumer really isn't up to Ford. Most states have laws against it, requiring the dealership sales model.

I'd imagine wherever Tesla has set up shop, is where Ford Model E centers could likewise open up:

https://www.tesla.com/findus/list/services/United+States

IMO the dealer franchise system is broken, has certainly lost my trust. I've had a few service advisors try to pull some stuff that really turned me off.

 

[Naranjita]

Any one who thinks the UAW and Teamsters Union will let this fly. Better hope you get your Maverick soon cause deliveries will come to a complete stop if Ford actually try's this.

UAW and Teamsters don't like Tesla because they are open shop/non-union and have been called out for many unfriendly labor practices. Not because of their dealer model. Ford is a union manufacturer and would still be union if they started selling directly to consumers. They could still use the same delivery method in place now. Just the final destination is different. Not to a dealer.

Now the other point is actually the bigger barrier for Ford. Dealers have been lobbying states for years to limit the ability of manufacturers selling directly and bypassing middlemen. Even before there was a Tesla. Tesla found loopholes in many states (mostly about legally not being a domestic manufacturer). And lobbied in others. There is now a loophole in place in Michigan, though, no longer requiring going to another state. In New Mexico, they build stores on tribal lands to bypass state laws. And some states limit the numbers of stores they can have to 1, 2, or whatever.

 

[olderbudwiser]

UAW and Teamsters don't like Tesla because they are open shop/non-union and have been called out for many unfriendly labor practices. Not because of their dealer model. Ford is a union manufacturer and would still be union if they started selling directly to consumers. They could still use the same delivery method in place now. Just the final destination is different. Not to a dealer.

Now the other point is actually the bigger barrier for Ford. Dealers have been lobbying states for years to limit the ability of manufacturers selling directly and bypassing middlemen. Even before there was a Tesla. Tesla found loopholes in many states (mostly about legally not being a domestic manufacturer). And lobbied in others. There is now a loophole in place in Michigan, though, no longer requiring going to another state. In New Mexico, they build stores on tribal lands to bypass state laws. And some states limit the numbers of stores they can have to 1, 2, or whatever.

All I meant is the Teamsters are not going to allow non union drivers to handle Ford vehicles. If they try, the union will not deliver the other vehicles and at that point the UAW will not cross picket lines and all production will stop.

Or at least select factories that supply vital parts. This has been the past model.

 

[Naranjita]

All I meant is the Teamsters are not going to allow non union drivers to handle Ford vehicles. If they try, the union will not deliver the other vehicles and at that point the UAW will not cross picket lines and all production will stop.

Or at least select factories that supply vital parts. This has been the past model.

Yeah, I don't expect that to happen either. Ford is signatory to those bargaining groups. I don't see a way around that. If they want to go direct to consumer, they will likely do so coordinating with bargaining groups.

 

[Naranjita]

And transportation of parts/vehicles.

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