Ford Motor Co. says the number of dealers certified to sell the company's new lineup of plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) will exceed 900 this spring, up from only about 200 just a few months ago. The increase in certified dealerships coincides with a record-breaking January for Ford hybrid EV sales.
According to the company, the Focus Electric, C-MAX Energi and Fusion Energi will be available in all 50 states for the first time by the spring. Demand has been strong, with Ford's EV market share jumping from less than 3% in April 2012 to almost 16% in December 2012.
‘Research indicates that 60 percent of new vehicle shoppers are considering hybrid products,’ says C.J. O'Donnell, Ford's EV marketing manager. ‘With this demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles, early sales of Ford's five electrified vehicles has been phenomenal, creating a tremendous amount of excitement among our dealers.’
Certification means the dealerships have met the Ford's guidelines for dealers selling EVs – including installation of at least two on-site charging stations and participation in specialized training in the field of EVs.
