Ford Motor Company announced Wednesday the establishment of a new end-to-end organization, Product Creation and Industrialization, to deliver one of the most intensive product, software, and services rollouts in Ford’s history.
The new structure, which integrates Ford’s Electric Vehicle, Digital and Design team with its global Industrial System, is a key lever in achieving the company’s Ford+ objectives, including its target of an 8% adjusted EBIT margin by 2029.
“This is the culmination of years of work and progress to create the modern Ford – a talented, unified organization capable of scaling high-quality, software-defined vehicles with a choice of propulsion, distinctive digital experiences and features, and a personalized ownership experience that improves over time,” said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO.
Delivering Value Through Scale and Services
By creating the Product Creation and Industrialization team, Ford will be able to turn its highest‑volume vehicles into platforms for digital growth. This includes:
- Massive Portfolio Renewal: By 2029, Ford will refresh 80% of its North American portfolio by volume and 70% of its global portfolio by volume. This includes the first vehicle on the Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform, a mid-sized pickup, and the next-generation F-150 and F-Series Super Duty.
- The “Skunkworks” Breakthrough: The UEV platform represents a step-change in efficiency, affordability and digital experiences. It features an ultra-efficient powertrain and a groundbreaking fully zonal architecture with in-house software controls and ADAS that supports a wide range of vehicle types and battery chemistries. Its design utilizes “unicastings” to reduce weight and complexity, enabling a new, more efficient assembly process. The UEV project is also a valuable laboratory for modernizing Ford’s global development systems – from advanced CAD tools to physics-based cost modeling that are being applied to reduce expenses across Ford’s highest volume product lines. The program has also brought in new suppliers from outside the traditional auto industry.
- Always-Improving Experiences: By 2030, 90% of Ford’s vehicles by volume will feature updated electrical architectures, in-house developed user experiences and hardware, and next-generation over-the-air capabilities for continuous improvement in experiences and services. This foundation enables the rapid rollout of BlueCruise and the Ford Digital Experience, providing a scalable path toward future Level 3 autonomous driving.
- Electrification: Nearly 90 percent of Ford’s global nameplates will offer electrified powertrains by 2030. This will include advanced hybrids, extended-range electric vehicles, and fully electric vehicles. The UEV platform has already yielded breakthroughs such as high-efficiency motors that will improve future hybrids, and established the Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery engineering capability that now serves as the foundation for Ford’s stationary energy storage business, Ford Energy.
Leadership Transitions and Moves
Ford Chief Operating Officer Kumar Galhotra will lead the unified Product Creation and Industrialization organization. The team will be responsible for scaling Ford’s digital, design, and electric vehicle breakthroughs across its global industrial system, ensuring that innovative technologies are integrated with world-class engineering, purchasing, and manufacturing.
“The progress our teams have made in the past few years – from quality and cost to software delivery – has fundamentally reshaped the way we work and positioned Ford for a new era,” Galhotra said. “By uniting advanced technology with industrial execution, we can make decisions faster, eliminate complexity, and deliver great vehicles and digital experiences with the quality and efficiency our customers and shareholders expect.”
Doug Field, who joined Ford nearly five years ago to lead the company’s shift to electrified, connected and software-defined vehicles, has elected to leave the company after a transition over the next month. During his tenure, Field embedded high-tech capabilities into the company while building a world-class team and culture. Crucially, Field also helped foster collaboration between the Electric Vehicle, Digital & Design and Industrial System teams that made this full integration possible.
“I’m honored to have been a part of leading Ford during an unprecedented period of technology and market disruption,” Field said. “I believe Ford now has a winning technology strategy and plan. The first breakthrough product off the Universal EV platform – a mid-size pickup – is on its way to production. We have clearly defined hardware, software, and electrification plans across our full product line. The initial quality of our core technologies is now near the top of the industry. Most importantly, we have incredibly talented teams across these disciplines, ready to carry Ford into the future. I am completely confident in them and so excited to see their work in the coming years.”
Field said he looks forward to sharing learnings from his unique career in his next chapter. “I have been incredibly lucky to be at the center of disruption and innovation at Apple, Tesla, and now Ford, and I look forward to giving some of that experience back to the world.”
Said Farley: “Doug has been an invaluable partner for me as CEO and helped Ford find its place in this new era of electric propulsion and software-defined vehicles. He not only assembled a brilliant team from across industries but also elevated our culture by teaching first-principles thinking and instilling the discipline to question constraints and eliminate complexity. His influence will be felt for years to come.”
Alan Clarke is promoted to vice president, Advanced Development Projects. Clarke will continue to lead the Advanced Electric Vehicle Development team. This “skunkworks” model – small teams of world class engineers given the autonomy to innovate before industrialization – has proven to be a highly effective engine for breakthrough products, and Ford will leverage it for select future programs.
Kieran Cahill, Ford vice president, manufacturing, Europe and IMG, is retiring effective May 1. During his 37-year career at the company, Cahill has been a relentless champion for manufacturing and continuous improvement, overseeing some of Ford’s most innovative and best-performing plants.
Reflecting on Kieran’s career, Galhotra commented, “Kieran has devoted nearly four decades to Ford Motor Company. He led the transformation of our manufacturing operations across our most critical global sites, delivering breakthroughs in quality and efficiency that now serve as the benchmark for Ford worldwide. His leadership leaves Ford in a stronger position for the future, and we wish him the very best as he begins this next chapter.”
