"they" would be Ford and Jim Farley specifically. CEO's get paid millions to to predict the future. That's it. Farley failed. Given the dealers at the time of launch told him it wouldn't work, he wouldn't listen. He also wouldn't pay attention to see people wanted hybrid mavericks - they could have sold many more than they have. Its a management failure.
Toyota hasn't cut back plans. They continue on the hybrid / plug in hybrid model. A year ago everyone said they were way behind. Possibly Toyota management has driven a few cars and grew up in a middle class family and has a clue.
Say what you want about Musk - and I won't buy a Tesla either - but Musk is a visionary. He invented the entire modern EV industry on his own. Yes, there earnings have fallen a lot - but are still the highest in the car industry by a mile.
You yourself have lamented on buying a Bolt. It seems like a practical afordable family car. American's don't want to be told what to buy. They could care what power them however. If they could get a car powered by banana's they wouldn't care - assuming there was an ample and affordable supply of banana's.
Ford upper management failure. IMHO.
Toyota is the perfect example. They didnt jump into EVs and if you remember correctly everyone was trashing them for that. Seems like they were 100% right. Toyota is not known for sports cars. BTW- I was on Toyotas side in this forum and had some lively debates with others in here when they were trashing Toyota for being behind in EV development. I was right, easy to find the threads on it.
Elon Musk said many times they need 50% growth ... they are down in the 20s with slashed profit margins. Your mentioned how good their earnings are at a time they are falling, we have to see where it stops. They even put off the Mexico plant.
Bolt is not a family car, it's a puddle jumper for local running around that needs no maintainance. Like a golf cart in communities.
Calling Ford a failure (of which I am no fan of Ford AT ALL) to me is rough, considering the entire EV industry in the USA is struggling doesnt make sense to me especially since they make more money than Tesla who has been in business for well over a decade and only started making money the last few years. Musk should have known better, he has only one type of vehicle and nothing to fall back on.
Here are his results,
Ford still makes more money, through UAW strike and EV start up,
It's all good, I have no interest in either, Im just confused, you seem to be ignoring that EV roll out is not even close to public acceptance