That's it? 295 Energi's sold in March... (414 overall) /sigh

[shaggy314]

From: http://insideevs.com/march-2013-plug-in-electric-vehicle-sales-report-card/

 

Ford Fusion Energi:

Ford now reports that sales of its Fusion Energi in March checked in at at decent (especially considering the lack of inventory across the country) at 295 units.

The Fusion plug in went on sale at the very end of last month, but still managed to sell 119 copies.  How short a window?  Well, when we talked to a representative in connection with Ford, just days before month’s end, he said that the company would not get any out during the month.

The Fusion Energi basically offers the same package as the C-Max Energi, but in a larger sedan package. The third plug-in to be offered from Ford has just been rated by the EPA at a combined 100 MPGe (92 MPGe highway, 108 MPGs city), and has an all-electric range of 21 miles.

Unlike the C-Max Energi, the Fusion Energi has been priced in-line (and above) the other 5 Fusion trim levels in the model lineup, so as not to ‘steal’ sales from itself. This has resulted in a starting MSRP of $39,495, which we feel is a bit steep.

 

 

I was hoping for a little higher number... well it is SOLD and not BUILT and they aren't sold until delivered.

[meyersnole]

Right, up until you drive it off the lot you can still walk away. So its not sold until the paperwork is dry.

[joeblow231]

Yes, I'm glad the person that ordered mine decided the trunk wasn't going to work for them. I think they put together a nice package ;)

[TX NRG]

Since production only started in mid-Feb and the first ones didn't start arriving off the trains and at the dealerships until the last couple days of the month, 414 for March + a few days is a pretty good number.

[mczajka]

Yeah, that's pretty good. Will these cars ever deliver the same numbers as the Volt? I'm not sure. But they will cut into Volt sales for sure.

 

These numbers should go up as people get a chance to talk to others and experience the nice ride the car offers.

[FusionEnergi]

Right, up until you drive it off the lot you can still walk away. So its not sold until the paperwork is dry.

My contract said that I could not change my mind or back out, so once I signed I was under the impression I was locked in. Not that I would have backed out, since this is the best vehicle to meet our current needs.  So far 60miles on it and all in EV.

[shaggy314]

My contract said that I could not change my mind or back out, so once I signed I was under the impression I was locked in. Not that I would have backed out, since this is the best vehicle to meet our current needs.  So far 60miles on it and all in EV.

 

All they have is your deposit. They'd keep it and then sell it to somebody else...

[meyersnole]

They potentially have your deposit. Depends on how it all played out. If they were smart they would roll it into another deal... sometimes they don't even do that (depends on what you ordered -- is it odd and hard to sell or are there people waiting to pounce?).

 

Good dealerships are worried about making you a customer for life, not that sale.

[jsamp]

They could easily sell more.... if they had a more reasonable price tag on them.

[Dag]

Catching up - but I think they would sell more if the sales people knew what theses were.

 

In my experience, I knew way more about the car, the rebate, and the tax credit than the dealership. In addition I've yet to see one on the lot that has any miles left in EV.

 

In fact some of them even had a dead 12v.

 

If you want to sell them, you need to tell customers what they are, demonstrate it, tell them about the rebates and tax credit.

 

I'm convinced if you left me on the lot for a weekend I could move the existing 2013 inventory fairly quickly.

[Andre07]

Ford really dropped the ball on the Hybrid and Energi vehicles with little to no Advertising

 

In my end of the world, Canada all they ever advertised was the Ford Family Pricing.  We only have 8 Certified Energi Dealerships across the country and the Inventory at many Dealerships was one or two at the most.

 

Other Automakers are continually advertising that they are the only Auto Maker that has various Options like Lane Keeping, self parking, obstacle detections, Smart/Safe Cruise Control Systems etc that Ford Fusion and other Ford models have.

 

Local Newspaper "Winnipeg Free Press" had the Auto Section talking about the BMW and Mercedes and Volkswagaon as the only Vehicles available today that are working on many of the Features that the Ford Hybrid and Energi have today, yet Ford is not bothering to get the Message out.

 

I blame all this in the very poor advertising that Ford has done on.  We live in the information Age yet Ford seems to want to continue by word and Mouth only it seems.

 

Ford has produced a great Product except fr the 12Volt System (which they do need to fix) but the techonoly of the Hybrid and Energi are further than any other Automaker to date and I find the Price to be very reasonable for all the Car offers.

 

The Advertising by Ford is what has kept the sales numbers much lower than they should have been.

 

I decided to hold off on purchasing the Ford Fusion Energi till next year when I gett my "Old Man Cheque"  I really just could not handle this purchase this year.

 

I will continue to read all the posts and contribute when and where I can till I get my Energi Next Sept..... whether it be a 2013, 2014 or 2015 will depend on what is offered.

Edited September 29, 2013 at 08:55 PM by Andre07

[jsamp]

I agree with you Dag.  I've heard too many stories of people going in to the dealer knowing more about the energi than the sales folks.

 

Sept. sales numbers just came out for the energis, with the C-max clocking 758 and the Fusion 750.  Things are improving, though I suspect that's mostly due to the increased "incentives" being offered right now to clear out the 2013 models.

 

 

Catching up - but I think they would sell more if the sales people knew what theses were.

In my experience, I knew way more about the car, the rebate, and the tax credit than the dealership. In addition I've yet to see one on the lot that has any miles left in EV.

In fact some of them even had a dead 12v.

If you want to sell them, you need to tell customers what they are, demonstrate it, tell them about the rebates and tax credit.

I'm convinced if you left me on the lot for a weekend I could move the existing 2013 inventory fairly quickly.

[meyersnole]

Looks like Ford did better this last month...

 

Ford's two Energi plug-in hybrid models both increased their sales over last month's totals: The C-Max Energi sold 758, its best month in almost a year, and the Fusion Energi sold 750, its highest-ever total.

 

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1087257_plug-in-electric-car-sales-for-sept-sales-slacken-after-aug-record?fbfanpage

[No1hedberg]

In my experience, I knew way more about the car, the rebate, and the tax credit than the dealership. In addition I've yet to see one on the lot that has any miles left in EV.

In fact some of them even had a dead

It's amazing how little dealers know about hybrids and phevs. When I bought my '12 FFH my dealer tried to talk me out of buying it because they said I would get worse mileage because the hybrid only worked below 45 mph and my commute included interstate driving. Of course you have the CEO of fiat asking people not to buy their 500e because they lost money on every unit sold. I guess that kind of thinking could explain the lack of advertising.