The Gist
Ford had a record $185B in revenue last year but expects profits to drop by $2B+ in 2025. EVs? Still a $5B+ money pit.
CEO Jim Farley admits big electric trucks "donāt make financial sense"āso expect more hybrids and extended-range EVs. Meanwhile, tariffs on Mexico and Canada could nuke profits if they stick.
Dealers, take note: Gas and hybrid vehicles are still the moneymakers, EV prices are dropping (along with margins), and Fordās future is riding on not making the wrong betāagain.
A Game of High Stakes and Low Profits

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Fordās latest earnings report is out, and if you're looking for reassurance, well⦠letās just say the Blue Oval is bracing for impact.
Profits are expected to shrink, EVs are still a money pit, and tariffs loom like a storm cloud no oneās quite sure will break.
But donāt worryāJim Farley says āour future is really in our hands.ā Thatās either inspiring or ominous, depending on how much you trust Fordās grip.
So, How Bad Is It?
Not catastrophic, but definitely not great. Letās break it down.
2024 revenue hit a record $185 billion, with a net income of $5.9B. Not exactly bankruptcy court, butā¦
2025 profits are expected to drop by $2B or more. New vehicle launches and lower prices are eating into margins.
EV losses? Growing. Ford lost $5.1B on electric vehicles last year. This year, they expect to lose up to $5.5B.
Stock fell 5% after earnings. Wall Street didnāt love what they heard.
Farley summed up Fordās cautious 2025 forecast as āprudent.ā Which is CEO-speak for: Weāre not saying ābad,ā but weāre also not saying āgood.ā
Wait, Didnāt Ford Just Say EVs Were the Future?
Yes. And also no.
Ford is now openly admitting what a lot of dealers have been screaming for yearsāmass-market EVs, especially big ones, are a tough sell.
āFor larger retail, electric utilities, the economics are unresolvable.ā
Translation: Big EV trucks and SUVs are just too expensive to make, and customers wonāt pay extra for them.
Instead of chasing Teslaās tailpipe, Ford is shifting its focus to hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and extended-range EVs (EREVs).
Whatās an EREV?
Think of it like a backup generator on wheels. Itās an electric carā¦except thereās a small gas engine onboard to recharge the battery. Ford says these models could hit 700+ miles of rangeāwhich means less range anxiety and, hopefully, more customers actually buying them.
And What About Those Tariffs?
Ah yes, the political wild card.
The Trump administration hit Mexico and Canada with a surprise 25% tariffāthen immediately hit undo. But the issue isnāt dead. If tariffs come back and stick around, Ford (and the rest of the industry) is in for a financial migraine.
āIf tariffs persist, itād mean billions of dollars of losses for the domestic car industry.ā
For context, the Ford Maverick is built in Mexico. So are a ton of critical parts. If tariffs return, expect higher prices, thinner margins, and a lot of headaches.
What Dealers Need to Know
Hereās what all this means for your business:
Gas and hybrid vehicles will stay the breadwinners. Fordās EVs are struggling, but its hybrid and combustion lineup is still making money.
Expect more hybrids and extended-range EVs. Ford is betting on this āmiddle groundā as a way to salvage its electrification strategy.
Tariffs are the great unknown. If they stick, prices will go up. Keep an eye on Washington.
EV prices are softening. Which is great for customers but tougher on margins.
Final Word?
Fordās trying to pivot before it crashes. Will hybrids and EREVs save the day? Maybe. But for now, the companyās real moneymakers are still gas-powered trucks and commercial fleet sales.
And in 2025, thatās where dealers should be paying attention.

