Ford is gearing up to launch new EVs overseas as it battles for global market share. Ahead of its EV blitz, Ford is currently the fastest-growing auto brand in Saudi Arabia. The American automaker is laying the groundwork for “an electrified future” in The Middle East.
Ford sees sales surge in Saudi Arabia with EVs en route
More people are buying Ford’s vehicles in The Middle East than ever. “2024 has been an exceptional year for Ford in the Middle East, with sales having doubled since 2022,” president of Ford Middle East, Ravi Ravichandran, said Thursday.
Ford’s success is being driven by “strong market share gains by our distributors,” Ravichandran explained.
The American automaker is growing in key regions, including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
Ford said it’s currently the fastest-growing auto brand in Saudi Arabia. The sales surge is thanks to “Ford’s extensive and freshest portfolio of vehicles,” the company said. However, the lineup is about to get even more attractive.
The company highlighted its new lineup of vehicles, including its first fully electric vehicle, the Mustang Mach-E.
The “Mustang Mach E represents a landmark moment for us,” Ford’s president of International Markets Group, Kay Hart, said. “It’s our first fully electric vehicle for the region and is truly one of the most exciting vehicles Ford has ever produced.”
Ford will launch the 2025 Mustang Mach-E in the region next year. It will be available in two battery options with an estimated range of 350 to 450 km (217 to 280 miles).
The Mach-E will join Ford’s F-150, Taurus, and Territory models. Next year, Ford’s best-selling nameplate, the Territory, will also arrive in the Middle East in hybrid form.
With a new parts distribution center opening in the UAE in January 2025, Ford said it will offer quicker parts delivery, allowing drivers to get back on the road quicker.
Electrek’s Take
Although Ford is growing in The Middle East, the company is downsizing in other key regions. In Germany, Ford lost two of its most experienced leadership team members this month.
The American automaker now has just two managing directors in Germany, down from nine earlier this year.
Ford is restructuring its business in Germany as it fights stiff competition, including low-cost Chinese EV makers. The Middle East is another key overseas auto market shifting to electric models. Ford will compete with incoming rivals like BYD to gain market share.
In the US, Ford is shutting down production of its once best-selling F-150 Lightning electric pickup in Michigan for nearly two months.
Ford spokesperson Jessica Enoch told Electrek in an emailed statement, “We continue to adjust production for an optimal mix of sales growth and profitability.”
Through the first ten months of 2024, Ford has sold nearly 74,000 EVs in the US, up 38% from the 53,502 sold last year.