As electric vehicles continue rapid growth, two major players leading the charge are Tesla and Ford…
Introduction to Tesla
Founded in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, Tesla‘s original goal was to prove electric vehicles could outperform gasoline-powered cars. Elon Musk joined in 2004 as an investor and became CEO in 2008 with the aim of accelerating the world‘s transition to sustainable energy.
Over the past 15 years, Tesla has pioneered the EV market with constant innovation. Key milestones include:
- 2008 – The debut of Tesla‘s first car, the Roadster sportscar
- 2012 – The Model S sedan launched as the first mass market EV with 265+ mile range
- 2019 – Record sales and delivery of over 350,000 vehicles
- 2022 – 1 million total vehicles produced to date
Today, Tesla exclusively produces electric vehicles, including sedans, SUVs and upcoming pickups and sportscars. With massive 75-100% year over year growth and over 1.3 million vehicles now on the road, Tesla has proven EVs abilities and brought sustainable transportation into the mainstream.
Ford‘s EV History
Ford, founded in 1903 by Henry Ford, is one of America‘s oldest and most storied automakers. The Model T first made cars affordable to middle class families while the Mustang launched the muscle car era. Recent popular models like the F-150 pickup established Ford as an industry leader.
While initially focused solely on internal combustion engines, Ford has recently invested heavily in electric vehicle development and production. Key moments in Ford‘s EV history include:
- 2011: Ford unveils the Focus Electric hatchback, their first full production all-electric car
- 2021: The Mustang Mach-E crossover launched to strong reviews as Ford‘s first dedicated EV based on a brand icon
- 2022: Ford begins delivery of their flagship F-150 Lightning EV pickup truck, tapping into America‘s bestselling vehicle category
Ford plans to invest over $50 billion into electric and autonomous vehicles through 2026. CEO Jim Farley stated Ford is "going all in, creating separate but complementary businesses that give us start-up speed and unbridled innovation" (1).
EV Model Lineup Comparison
| Tesla | Ford |
|---|---|
| Model S: Original 265+ mile flagship sedan, refreshed for 2022 with up to 405 mile range | Mustang Mach-E: Sporty high-tech crossover SUV available in RWD and AWD models ranging from 230 to 310 max miles range |
| Model 3: Best selling EV globally, available as rear or all-wheel drive with range between 272 to 358 miles | F-150 Lightning: All electric version of America‘s bestselling truck for decades available in fleet and personal use models. Max range sits at 320 miles |
| Model X: Falcon-winged electric SUV with seating for up to 7 and 333 max mile range | E-Transit: Work-ready electric cargo van for commercial fleet use with 126 mile max range |
| Model Y: Tesla‘s new smaller crossover seating up to 7 with range of 330 miles | Future models: Plans in place for EV pickup and larger commercial vehicles in coming years |
| Cybertruck: Futuristic pickup announced in 2019, production postponed to late 2023 | Ford has also committed to going fully electric in Europe by 2030, with global vehicle sales 40% electric by 2030 |
With Tesla devoted exclusively to electric drivetrains and Ford balancing internal combustion and electric lineups, this table showcases the current model similarities and differences. While Tesla offers more range on paper, recent reviews have found Ford‘s range numbers align closely with real-world driving.
Ford‘s electric models leverage nostalgic nameplates in the Mustang, Lightning and E-Transit which may appeal to longtime fans of those vehicles. However, Tesla‘s lineup feels more futuristic with the high-tech interiors and eccentric Cybertruck design.
EV Sales and Revenue Growth Trends
Reviewing historical delivery and sales data showcases the meteoric rise of Tesla from startup to leading US automaker while Ford‘s steady sales lag, especially recently with part shortages.
| Year | Tesla Deliveries | Tesla Year/Year Growth | Ford US Sales | Ford Year/Year Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 245,240 | +145% | 2,497,318 | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 367,656 | +50% | 2,422,698 | -3% |
| 2020 | 499,535 | +36% | 2,047,069 | -15.5% |
| 2021 | 936,172 | + 87% | 1,896,562 | -7.4% |
"Tesla‘s vehicle delivery growth since 2018 is simply unprecedented expansion in automotive history" remarks Sandy Munro, longtime industry analyst and CEO of Munro & Associates. He adds "assuming continued 50%+ annual increases, Tesla could reasonably top 2 million deliveries in 2023 which would rival Toyota and GM as the world‘s top auto manufacturer" (2).
Meanwhile, Ford suffered declining sales since 2018 primarily due to issues like production constraints. The rapid growth in EV segment share shows tremendous promise. According to Experian automotive data, the Ford Mustang Mach-E captured 9.4% share of the total EV market in Q1 2023 while the Lightning captured 4.2% of EV sales since launch (3). Consumer reception of new EV launches points towards a brighter future.
Comparing revenue and profitability also showcases…
I hope this complete guide has presented an unbiased, data-driven comparison of Tesla and Ford electric vehicles. Please reach out with any other questions!
