Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, won the 2022 MotorTrend Person of the Year, which stems from his iconic turnaround of the automaker. Before Farley stepped into the shoes of CEO at Ford, most consumers thought of Ford as a dying Old World automaker stuck in the past. Farley has helped to create a monumental shift that has brought the company into becoming one of the key electric vehicle competitors.
Quick Changes in a Short Time
Farley first took on the role of CEO at Ford in 2020. In two years' time, he has made dramatic changes that have had a positive impact. Especially for a company over 119 years old, two years to make changes is an incredible feat. What Farley does within the next two to three years will define him as CEO.
Ford now positions itself as the best legacy automaker to make the switch to EVs. The automaker now secured two out of every three dealers who plan to switch to all-electric vehicles. Over 3,000 Ford dealers sell cars across America, and 1,920 of those dealers enrolled in the voluntary Model e Program, which will begin in 2024 and go until 2026.
Giving Credit Where Credit is Due
The MotorTrend Person of the Year choice shows us where the auto industry may head next. Jim Farley won as the overall winner, which stems from his choice to double down on Ford's production of EVs. Before this point, most consumers thought of Ford as a company slow to accept change. Ford hopes that by 2030, two-thirds of all vehicle sales for the company will come from either electric or hybrid models.
Whether Ford becomes the leader of EVs remains to be seen, but they have made a move that will impact the future of Ford. Farley appears to know where the future is headed for cars. On multiple occasions, he has even praised Elon Musk for leading the way in this trend.
Conclusion
Ford has the most aggressive electrification plans out of all the legacy automakers, thanks to Jim Farley. MotorTrend chose him largely because of his heavy push for electric cars and trucks. Several other people received credit as well, with many of them in full support of EVs. This new trend is incredible, especially because it wasn't long ago that electric cars were thought of as outcasts. You might buy a hybrid to save money on gas, but few people would even think of an electric car. If you'd like to learn more, contact our dealership.