Ford’s EV chief is leaving the automaker amid new restructuring efforts

DETROIT — ford motorThe head of the automaker’s electric vehicle and software division is leaving as it restructures its executives and operations.

Ford said Wednesday that Doug Field — CEO of electric vehicles, digital and design — “has elected to leave the company after a transition period over the next month.” A statement announcing the move called “the next chapter” for Field, but the executive declined to reveal specific plans in a call with the media on Wednesday.

Field’s departure was announced at the same time as Ford detailed a new executive structure that includes the creation of a “product creation and manufacturing” organization at the company that will be led by Ford veteran and Chief Operating Officer Kumar Galhotra.

The new structure will integrate Field’s responsibilities with the company’s global industrial system group to help the automaker achieve certain goals under its “Ford+” business plan, such as its goal of an 8% EBIT margin by 2029, Ford said.

“Today is a very important moment for us at Ford, really for our next chapter. It’s also an important moment for all of us as leaders,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said Wednesday in a phone call with Field and Galhotra. “We believe this organizational change will really help us achieve all of our key Ford Plus goals.”

Field’s departure comes as Ford prepares to launch the next generation of electric vehicles, which Farley said is no less important than the company’s famous Model T.

Farley and Field said on the call with media that the upcoming vehicle — a midsize pickup built on Ford’s “universal electric vehicle” or UEV platform that is scheduled to launch next year — was in a strong position to continue in the new unit without Field.

“Ford will be transformed by taking these products to the finish line. My team is ready, and they are ready to execute,” Field said Wednesday.

Ford on Wednesday described the new Product Creation and Manufacturing unit as a “comprehensive organization” that aims to “deliver one of the most intensive products, software and services in Ford history.”

The automaker plans to upgrade 80% of its North American portfolio by volume and 70% of its global portfolio by volume by 2029. This includes the UEV pickup truck, the next-generation F-150 and the larger F-Series Super Duty lineup, the company said.

This product shift will also include new powertrain offerings and programs, Ford said on Wednesday.

“This is really the heart and soul of the next two years of our transformation,” Farley said. “This new structure allows us to move much faster, reduce complexity within the company and deliver those great digital experiences and vehicles with greater quality and efficiency.”

By 2030, the company plans to have 90% of its global nameplates offering electric powertrains, including hybrids, long-range EVs and fully electric vehicles. It also aims to update 90% of its vehicles by volume for “electrical architecture, internally developed user experiences and devices, and next-generation over-the-air capabilities for continuous improvement in experiences and services.”

Ford said the new technologies will enable the “rapid deployment” of advances in its digital customer experience and BlueCruise advanced driver assistance system, with a “scalable path” toward Ford’s 2028 goal of blind driving.

“We’re on the cusp of the biggest change the company has ever seen, which is introducing all of this new software, hardware, products and services in ’27 through ’29, which will not only get us to an 8% margin, but will also transform the company,” Farley said. “This is the team that will make this happen.”

There will be no direct replacement for Field, who was praised by Ford executives when the automaker brought him to the company in 2021 after previous leadership positions with the leading U.S. electric vehicle company. Tesla and apple.

Farley, who called Field’s appointment a “watershed moment” at the time, also spoke fondly of the CEO on Wednesday. He said Field was an “invaluable partner” who “built a world-class team at Ford.”

However, many of Ford’s software and electric vehicle initiatives have not performed as expected. Notably, the automaker reported a significant shortfall in software revenue generation, and announced in December that it would write off $19.5 billion related to the divestment of electric vehicles and realignment of business priorities.

While many automakers have reported such impacts due to electric vehicles, Ford’s write-off was much larger than that of its closest competitor. general motors, Which announced approximately $7.6 billion of these fees.

In addition to Field’s departure from the company, Ford on Wednesday announced a series of other changes to its European advanced vehicle development and manufacturing products.

“With this unified organization, I believe we are better positioned than ever to deliver high-quality vehicles, advanced digital experiences and profitable services at scale,” Galhotra said. “That’s what this is all about.”