Ford's New Mach-e Has Every Formerly-Unique Tesla Model Y Feature And One Huge Advantage
Shortly after Ford released the game-changing Mustang every major automaker who wanted one had a model very similar. Notably Chevy and Pontiac. Copying a successful formula is as American as apple pie. Tesla is about to find out the hard way that what it considered its unique pumpkin spice sauce is about to be sold at Walmart.
Mustang Mach-e
If you can't possibly imagine an all-electric, four-door crossover Mustang, log off of the world wide web now and go back to your gardening. Ford's newest crossover is a member of the expanding Mustang family and it looks like a Tesla Model Y built by Ford. Yes, the new Mustang Mach-e is a compact crossover and instead of doing a stupid thing, like copying a sedan model when nobody really wants a sedan, Ford copied Tesla's upcoming Model Y. It may even beat it to market. Which would technically mean Tesla copied Ford's design. That possibility has us chuckling. "Hey, look a frunk on that Mach-e. Tesla should put one in its Model Y, it's a good idea."
Ford Mach-e Specs vs Model Y
The official Mustang Mach-e specs will be released in about a day or two. The Ford will have range in the 300-mile ballpark depending upon trim. It will have zero to sixty MPH times from roughly mid-5s to roughly mid-3s. Nobody needs a faster crossover than that. There is no place to put that performance to use in the real world.
Ford Mach-e - Over The Air Updates
Every automaker can provide over the air updates. Now. Today. Thinking that Ford could not choose to do it with its upcoming Mach-e is silly. Acura did an OTA update last week to add more infotainment options. It's old tech now.
Watch comparing the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E price with the Tesla Model 3, Audi E-Tron, Jaguar I-Pace and click to subscribe to Torque News Youtube channel for daily automotive news analysis.
Ford Assisted Driving and Active Safety
Ford's Mach-e will have active safety and driver-assist systems like lane-centering, auto-braking, full adaptive cruise with stop-start and traffic assist. Will it park your car for you? Ford has had technology that can auto-park cars since before Tesla had cars.
Tesla's Tablet-based Infotainment and Controls
Expect the new Ford Mach-e to copy Tesla's tablet-based controls and infotainment interface. However, Ford will likely incorporate both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Pricing - Model Y vs. Ford Mach-e
The Ford Mach-e will undercut Tesla's Model Y pricing across the board on comparable trims. Ford has plenty of time left on its full $7,500 federal tax credit program. Tesla's tax credit ends in six weeks. After the federal tax deduction, state rebates in EV-target states, and after dealer discounts expect Mach-e base trims to cost customers about 25% less than an entry-level Tesla Model Y. If Tesla even builds any entry-level trims.
Ford's One Big Advantage - Being Big
Tesla names its production facilities gigafactories to imply they are big. The largest automotive plant in the U.S. is Ford's plant in Missouri. It has dozens more all over the country and hundreds of facilities all over the planet. Ford's supplier and dealer networks are the largest on the planet, rivaled only by Toyota and GM in the U.S. Should Ford turn its full attention to producing a modern third-generation EV, which is what the Mach-e looks to be, it will have the mightiest economy of scale in the industry to flex. One last fun tidbit. The Mach-e is going to launch in both the U.S. and China.
How do we know all of this? Not from Ford. We declined the embargoed release party due to travel conflicts. We have not seen any proprietary Ford-supplied information. We have not broken any promises to anyone at Ford. Be patient. Check back on Monday morning for more images, details and Tesla Model Y comparisons. Ford is now accepting pre-orders for the Mach-e.
In addition to covering green vehicle topics, John Goreham covers safety, technology, and new vehicle news at Torque News. You can follow John on Twitter at @johngoreham.