Ford Chief Lisa Brankin on accelerating the switch to EVs

Inside Business with Ciaran Hancock

New electric vehicle sales here dipped last year by 24% when compared to 2023, further making a mockery of the government’s target of 1 million EVs on Irish roads by 2030.

A reduction in the SEAI grant and gaps in charging infrastructure fed into consumer uncertainty when it comes to making the switch from petrol and diesel vehicles.

But that trend looks to be reversing this year, something that Lisa Brankin, chairman and managing director of Ford UK & Ireland, will be keen to see accelerate.

She joined host Cliff Taylor in studio to discuss the challenges of going electric, her plans for the company’s future, and the launch of Ford Power Promise across Ford’s range of electric cars in Ireland.

Also on this week’s episode of Inside Business, AIB’s Economic Outlook Report for May highlights how global uncertainty and an escalation in trade tariffs could lead to a slowdown in global and Irish growth in 2025 and 2026.

That said, the report also points out that the Irish economy has built up a certain level of resilience to withstand a potential trade shock in the short term.

AIB Chief Economist David McNamara went through the risk US tariffs and future US tax policy pose, and the outlook for 2025 and 2026.

Produced by John Casey and Suzanne Brennan with JJ Vernon on sound.

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