Ford Restructures EV and Software Operations as Chief Executive Doug Field Departs

Ford Motor Company is restructuring its executive leadership and operational framework, marked by the departure of Doug Field, the Chief EV, Digital, and Design Officer. Field, who joined the company in 2021 following leadership roles at Tesla and Apple, will exit the automaker after a one-month transition period. The move comes as Ford establishes a new 'Product Creation and Industrialization' unit. This end-to-end organization, led by Chief Operating Officer Kumar Galhotra, aims to integrate software and digital design with global industrial systems to streamline the rollout of next-generation vehicles and services. This restructuring is designed to help Ford achieve an 8% adjusted EBIT margin by 2029. The company plans to refresh 80% of its North American portfolio and 70% of its global portfolio by volume within the same timeframe. Central to this transition is the upcoming midsize pickup based on the 'Universal Electric Vehicle' (UEV) platform, scheduled for release next year. Looking toward 2030, Ford intends for 90% of its global nameplates to offer electrified powertrains, including hybrids and full EVs. Additionally, the company aims for 90% of its vehicles by volume to feature updated electrical architectures and in-house developed user experiences. On the technology front, Ford is pursuing a 2028 goal to achieve 'eyes-off' autonomous driving capabilities via its BlueCruise advanced driver assistance system. CEO Jim Farley stated that the new structure is intended to reduce internal complexity and increase the speed of delivery for these critical hardware and software advancements.