Commercial Strong Focus at Ford Fleet Preview

On Thursday, July 29, Ford held a virtual fleet preview for industry professionals.

Jim Farley, Ford president & CEO has made it clear where the OEM is headed – “Ford owns work.” Ford is investing heavily in the commercial space and, according to the automaker, is the only OEM that offers vehicles in Class 1-7.

During the Fleet Preview, the benefits and strengths of the all-new 2022-MY Maverick was touted. Additionally, the latest 2021-MY Ford F-150 expanded the powertrain offering with an available 3.5L PowerBoost V-6. F-Series will also be one of the first models to offer hands-free driving technology.

The all-new F-150 Lightning Pro, built for work and engineered for uptime, was detailed and the automaker reminded viewers about the Ford F-600 Chassis Cab, which was award Work Truck magazine’s Medium-Duty Truck of the Year award.

An Electrified Future

In addition to a commercial focus, electrification was top of mind. 

“Industries are going through a huge change when it comes to electrification. It’s one of the biggest business opportunities businesses have ever seen,” said Darren Palmer, general manager for Battery-Electric Vehicles at Ford. “Let’s be clear – this is happening. Ford is committed to leading vehicle electrification with $30 billion in investments through 2025.”

“Electrification is a profound opportunity to change how you do business. If you keep doing things the same way, but your competition moves ahead, you will be left behind,” Palmer added. “This transition feels daunting, but that’s true of every major change. But we are here to support you.”

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro is the most powerful F-150 ever and offers the same power that the traditionally fueled model offers. Palmer demonstrated the advanced features, including the all-new Mega Power Frunk and intelligent range that gives advanced range estimates based on real-world use.

Michelle Moody, advanced products director for Ford Pro Intelligence, shared the benefits of Ford Telematics including the mobile app, vehicle lock out assistance, driver identification, and more.

CEO of Ford Pro, Ted Cannis, told attendees that "the transformation of our business is happening right now. For us, it starts with Ford Pro, a new global business within Ford for the commercial customer."

“Ford has been the commercial leader for decades. At Ford, we believe electrification is a defining moment for the industry and many of our customers see this as an opportunity unlike they’ve ever seen. But we know not everyone will transition to electric at the same pace, at the same time frame. This means, realistically you’ll have a mixed fleet for years to come.,” Cannis said.

Ford noted that it looking to assist fleets make the transition as smooth as possible.

“We’ve got your back every step of the way. We understand the trepidation that comes with the move to electrification. You face real risk if you operations are disrupted. Ford Pro charging will make commercial charging easy,” Cannis said.

Ford is also delivering a turn-key depot charging solution with the acquisition of electriphi.

For additional information or to watch a reply of this year's Ford Fleet Preview, visit here.