Ford: Cutting EV Support Now Is “Unfair”

Ford Motor Company is pushing back against growing political uncertainty surrounding electric vehicle subsidies in the U.S.

At a recent media roundtable in Michigan, Ford Chairman Bill Ford made clear his frustration: once lawmakers commit to supporting electric cars, pulling that support midstream is, in his words, “unfair.”

Ford is already on track to lose over $5 billion on its electric vehicle division in 2025 alone.

$3.5 Billion Investment Now in Doubt

Ford has heavily committed to its EV strategy.

That includes building a new $3.5 billion battery factory and expanding existing manufacturing capacity to keep up with future demand.

In return, the company had projected 2,500 new jobs in Michigan.

But now, faced with political signals that EV incentives might be rolled back, Ford is scaling down. The factory budget has been slashed to $2.2 billion, and the projected job creation lowered to 1,700.

“If the rules change after we’ve already made our investments, it’s simply not fair,” Bill Ford told reporters, as quoted by Automotive News.

He added that even discussing subsidy rollbacks is already causing damage to Ford’s plans—and the local economy.

Subsidy Cuts Gaining Ground Beyond the U.S.

The uncertainty in the U.S. is not unique.

Several European countries have already backed away from once-generous EV subsidies.

Germany has removed support for new electric cars to address budget shortfalls.

France has pulled back on incentives even for its smallest EVs, and the Netherlands has followed suit.

This broader trend raises red flags for automakers who have bet big on electric vehicles. Without consistent and long-term political backing, key investments may be delayed or abandoned.

Ford’s EV Future Hangs in the Balance

Ford’s leadership remains publicly committed to electrification—but the company is adjusting expectations.

“We made our move,” Ford said.

Now, it’s up to the politicians to follow through.