Ford Motor has announced that it will eliminate a total of 3,000 salaried and contract jobs effective September 2022 as it restructures to focus on software-driven electric vehicles (EV). The announcement comes nearly a month after reports first surfaced that the American automaker is planning to cut jobs to trim costs and underline a transition to electric vehicles.

Does the company’s focus on EVs sit in line with consumers’ sentiments towards electric vehicles?

According to YouGov Profiles - which covers demographic, psychographic, attitudinal and behavioral consumer metrics - 48% of US consumers who intend on buying a new car would consider a petrol engine one, followed by electric engines (32%). About 31% of Americans are willing to consider full-hybrid models. Similarly, for Britons who intend to purchase a new car, petrol engines are the most popular consideration (48%), followed by full hybrid (32%) and electric engines (30%).

When it comes to factors that discourage consumers from buying an EV, respondents from both Great Britain (GB) and the US seem to share similar concerns. For example, 26% of Britons and 25% of Americans credit the high initial cost for not considering an EV. Similarly, lack of sufficient charging stations is a concern for 24% of Britons and 21% Americans.

On the other hand, 20% of Americans cite protecting the environment as a key consideration, compared to 19% of Britons. Low running costs would encourage 21% of Britons and 16% of Americans to consider buying an EV.

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Methodology: YouGov Profiles is based on continuously collected data and rolling surveys, rather than from a single limited questionnaire. Profiles data for the US and Great Britain, is nationally representative and weighted by age, gender, education, region, and race. Learn more about Profiles.  

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