Ford reorganizing with divisions for electric, conventional vehicles

Ford Motor Co. announced it will reorganize its divisions for conventional gas-engine business and electric vehicles and software. 

The automaker said in a statement on Wednesday that its latest initiative will keep both operations in-house with separate names and its own leadership structures and profit-and-loss statements.

The automaker’s “Ford Model e” division will focus on electric vehicles and digital innovations, developing key technologies and capabilities such as EV platforms, batteries, e-motors, inverters, charging and recycling to create electric vehicles. 

Ford Blue will focus on improving the profitability of popular models including F-Series, Ranger and Maverick trucks, Bronco and Explorer SUVs and Mustang convertibles, as well as investing in new models, derivatives, experiences and services, according to the statement. 

“We have made tremendous progress in a short period of time. We have launched a series of hit products globally and demand for our new EVs like F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E is off the charts,” Ford President and CEO Jim Farley said in a statement. 

“But our ambition with Ford+ is to become a truly great, world-changing company again, and that requires focus. We are going all in, creating separate but complementary businesses that give us start-up speed and unbridled innovation in Ford Model e together with Ford Blue’s industrial know-how, volume and iconic brands like Bronco, that start-ups can only dream about,” Farley, who will serve as Model e president, added. 

The announcement comes as other major automakers have already announced plans to launch their own electric vehicle series.

In a statement on Tuesday, Stellantis, the maker of Jeeps and Chrysler model vehicles, announced its plans to launch its Electric Jeep SUV series in early 2023.

“This new fully electric Jeep vehicle will be launched early next year, expanding the brand’s reach and taking the next step to the achievement of Jeep brand’s vision of Zero Emission Freedom,” Stellantis said in a statement. “More information on the Jeep battery-electric vehicle (BEV) will be released in the coming months.”