Ford Announces Departure of EV and Software Head Amid Restructuring

Ford Motor announced on Wednesday that its chief electric vehicle, digital and design officer has elected to leave the company after a transition period of one month. The announcement was made alongside details of a restructuring of the company's executives and operations.

The new structure integrates the departing officer's responsibilities with the global Industrial System group to assist in achieving objectives under the Ford+ business plan.

Ford established a new Product Creation and Industrialization organization, led by a company veteran serving as chief operating officer. This unit is described as an end-to-end organization focused on product, software, and services rollouts. The automaker plans to refresh 80% of its North American portfolio by volume and 70% of its global portfolio by volume by 2029.

Upcoming Vehicle Launches The restructuring supports the launch of a next-generation midsize pickup built on the Universal Electric Vehicle platform, scheduled for next year.

Additional products include a next-generation F-150 and larger F-Series Super Duty lineup, along with new powertrain offerings and software updates. Ford executives stated during a media call that the upcoming vehicle is positioned to proceed within the new unit.

By 2030, the company plans for 90% of its global nameplates to offer electrified powertrains, including hybrids, extended-range electric vehicles, and full electric vehicles.

The portfolio will also feature updated electrical architectures, in-house developed user experiences, hardware, and next-generation over-the-air capabilities. These technologies aim to enable rapid advancements in digital experiences and the BlueCruise advanced driver assistance system, with a path toward eyes-off driving by 2028.

Financial and Operational Context The departure occurs as Ford prepares for significant product rollouts from 2027 through 2029, intended to achieve the 8% adjusted EBIT margin target and transform the company.

5 billion write-down related to a pullback in electric vehicles and realignment of business priorities. 6 billion announced by General Motors. Ford also announced other changes to its advanced vehicle development products and European manufacturing.

There will be no direct replacement for the departing officer. The company brought the executive on board in 2021 following prior leadership roles at Apple.