Confirming rumors that have been circulating for months, Ford has announced that it is splitting into “two separate but strategically interdependent automotive businesses” called Ford Blue and Ford Model E. While Ford Blue will drive all legacy cars with internal combustion engines. , The Ford Model E is its boost in electric vehicles with products such as the Mustang Mach-E and Ford F-150 Lightning.
Former Tesla and Apple CEO Doug Field will serve as CEO of Ford Model E’s electric cars and digital systems. He was hired by Ford last fall after leaving Tesla in 2018 and working on Project Titan’s autonomous electric vehicle. Apple for several years. Field is responsible for creating products in the Ford Model E, as well as software and embedded systems in both units.
In addition to product development, the new structure will deal with another problem with many EVs with vaporware – it actually sells them to customers. The Model E unit will “create an exciting new shopping, buying and owning experience for future electric vehicle customers, including simple, intuitive e-commerce platforms, transparent pricing and personalized customer support from Ford ambassadors.”
While Galhotra and Farley told investors that Ford would stick to the North American franchise, the company also plans to get dealers to “choose” a new setup with a redesigned, standardized customer experience and transparent pricing. It also includes something that the shortage of chips has introduced car buyers – without inventory. They did not provide details on how this would affect commissions and other aspects of the dealership, even when Farley said dealers should be “ready to specialize.”
Ford Model E takes a clean slate approach to the design, manufacture and delivery of electric cars with “always-on” connected experiences, in ways that will significantly change Ford’s internal structure and the way things work for your local car dealers . While electric car companies like Tesla still dominate the segment, Ford and other legacy carmakers are still talking about big plans to catch up. On Tuesday, Stellantis showed an image of an electric jeep as it unveiled the Dare Forward 2030 plan to meet electrical and software commitments, and GM said it would invest $ 35 billion by 2025 to build electric and autonomous vehicles.
Company executives described the split as “how we will win as a company” as they implement Ford’s EV boost plans, which were originally unveiled last May. The carmaker decided not to try to separate the new device only for EV as a special acquisition company (SPAC).
Ford President and CEO Jim Farley will also be President of Model E, while Kumar Galhotra, President of Ford, America and International Markets, will be President of Ford Blue.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22638211/akrales_20210526_4595_0266.jpg "Ford is split in two, so the Ford Model E can focus exclusively on EVs 1")
The carmaker also plans to cut its $ 3 billion in gas costs over the next four years, which Farley and Galhotra have confirmed will include layoffs, although Ford Model E puts high priority on attracting “the best engineering software.” design and UX talent. ” Ford Blue will be subject to reduced “complexity” and “manic cost reductions” as the company invests $ 5 billion in electric vehicles in 2022 alone. over the next four years.