59% of U.S. Lincoln dealers sign up to sell EVs

Dealers in the top 130 markets have to spend about $900,000 to install two DC fast chargers and seven level 2 chargers. For a small market, you’ll need to spend about $500,000 for a DC charger and 4 Level 2s. Dealers making the necessary investments in the market will be allowed to sell an unlimited number of EVs.

Lincoln dealers, who also have Ford stores, will have to invest in each program to sell both brands of EVs.

The Lincoln Program will run from late 2024 through 2026. Another enrollment period will begin near the end of 2026 for the program starting in 2027.

Lincoln doesn’t sell EVs, but it has committed to launching three globally by 2025, with a fourth in 2026. Executives expect nearly 90% of Lincoln sales in North America to be electric by 2030.

Chris Poulos, chairman of the Lincoln National Dealer Council, said: car news The timing of the announcement makes sense.

“If you start the process too late and there’s a delay, you’re stuck and you’re in a bad place,” said Polos, general manager of West Point Lincoln in Houston. It seems early, but I also understand the pitfalls of not starting early.”

Joe Hay, president of Jim Burke Ford Lincoln in Bakersfield, Calif., said joining the Lincoln program was a “logical decision” for his store. I enrolled in the top tier of Ford’s program, which requires a dollar investment.

“As a West Coast dealer, I consider this an entry price,” he said. “I don’t know how I can be successful in the California retail environment without getting into the EV business.”

Much of the cost is expected to go toward charging infrastructure, but Hay says the certification program also includes required training for dealer workers.

“The next two years will give us the time we need not only to get the infrastructure in place, but also for our team to be trained, educated, and fluent in EV,” says Hay. said. “A lot of the people who want to see the Lincoln EV probably own a Tesla and are looking for something different, new and exciting. Two years really needs to take a lot of time, to get a lot of ground and talk intelligently about the future in a way that we don’t do today.”

He hopes Lincoln sells EVs today, but Hay said rolling out requirements also gives dealers a chance to prepare.

“Lincoln spent a lot of time trying to get this right.”