150,000 Electric Mustangs Built
When Ford decided to put the Mustang logo on its first mass-market electric crossover, it knew it would have skeptics. Mustang enthusiasts, fans of V8 engines and burning rubber, couldn’t quite believe that the company was calling a four-door crossover with an electric motor a Mustang. But the Mach-E’s success has proven the skeptics wrong: there are more and more of them on the road, and it’s now consistently one of the top-five selling electric cars in America.
In fact, Ford recently produced its 150,000th Mustang Mach-E, since starting production less than two years ago. It’s a significant milestone not just for the model, but also for Ford. The company is in the process of scaling its electric car production to a rate of 600,000 annually by late 2023 – and more than two million annually by 2026.
What’s remarkable about the Mach-E’s success is that almost 80 percent of its American buyers are replacing an internal combustion engine vehicle. It’s also proving to be a sales success in Europe – 90 percent of European Mach-E buyers are replacing a gasoline car, proof that Ford has found a formula for an EV that meets broad customer needs.
The Secrets to Success
One thing that Ford really got right with the Mustang Mach-E was its styling. It features many of the same iconic design cues from the Mustang coupe, which has over 60 years of history as a muscle car. There’s same hexagonal “grille” up front (though it’s a body-color plate and not an opening for a radiator), three-bar tail lamps in the rear, and a similar side window shape. It looks great, and it looks fast.
Despite that, the Mustang Mach-E is roomy – one of the best vehicles in its class. It rides on a long 117-inch wheelbase, which creates a huge amount of space in the rear seats, as well as offering a smooth, stable ride. There is plenty of room up front, too, and a large cargo area which can be accessed through a power hatch. A glass roof is standard, bringing plenty of natural light inside and contributing to a feeling of spaciousness.
The Mustang Mach-E has plenty of technology, but is intuitive to use. Yes, there is a giant screen for infotainment and climate control functions, which floats off the dashboard. But what’s nice is that there are still physical controls for important functions. There’s a large volume knob, an easy-to-use gear selector, and other key functions can be accessed without digging into menus.
As you would expect of something with a Mustang badge, the Mach-E is quick and fun to drive. Equipped with all-wheel drive, it will dash to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. But it also handles beautifully. Thanks to a low center of gravity, natural steering, and intuitive regenerative braking, it’s an easy car to drive on a winding road, as well as on city streets.
When it comes time to charge, the Mach-E can pull in up to 150 kW when using a Level 3 DC fast charger – about average for modern electric vehicles, but far off the fastest-charging vehicles like Hyundai’s Ioniq 5, which can charge twice as fast, at least in theory. In reality, most Level 3 chargers around the country deliver electricity at 150 kW or less, so it’s more than good enough.
A Global Success
Ford’s Mustang Mach-E, which we named one of the best EVs available, is now on sale in 37 countries. The latest additions to its roster are New Zealand, Brazil and Argentina. Global growth will continue as Ford upgrades its Mexican production facility to support even more markets.
“The plant is buzzing,” said Deborah Manzano, Ford’s director of manufacturing. “There’s a new battery line, new chassis line, additional assembly line, we’re literally maxing out the space to make more Mustang Mach-E vehicles. We most recently added a new paint shop, too. Nothing is standing still for long!”
