> unlike Tesla, Ford has to sell through the dealershits - I see it as a big disadvantage
My, what a strong argument.
Sorry for not explaining the reasons, I thought they were obvious. First, dealers cut into margins; second, they are not interested in selling vehicles that require very little service; third, they won't be able to provide great customer experience - no one likes negotiating with dealers.
> Ford has all the infrastructure that Tesla is attempting to build now
* no battery production facilities * no charging infrastructure * no vertical integration (unlike Tesla, Ford has to sell through the dealershits - I see it as a big disadvantage)
> They know how to mass produce cars
Yes - but can they produce the car the public will want in three years from now, when affordable all-electric, high-performance, autonomous Model 3s will redefine what modern car means?
> They have a large manufacturing and maintenance base that, frankly, Tesla can't replicate
I admit that they have some hurdles ahead, but what would stop Tesla from being more efficient at manufacturing than Ford? It is one of their objectives - and their track record is pretty good, to say the least.