Doug Field, Ford’s chief EV, digital and design officer, will leave the company after a transition of about one month, Ford said Wednesday, pairing the announcement with a broader executive and operations restructuring aimed at accelerating its Ford+ turnaround. Coverage from CNBC frames the move as part of a new “Product Creation and Industrialization” organization led by COO Kumar Galhotra.
What Changes Organizationally
Ford is folding Field’s remit into a tighter, end-to-end structure tied to its global Industrial System. The stated goal is to reduce internal complexity, speed execution, and align hardware, software, and manufacturing under one umbrella as the company pursues targets such as an 8% adjusted EBIT margin by 2029.
There will be no one-for-one replacement for Field’s title; instead responsibilities shift under the new unit, which Ford describes as central to one of its most intensive product, software, and services rollouts in history.
What Stays on the Roadmap
On a media call, CEO Jim Farley and Field both emphasized continuity for near-term flagship programs, including the Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform and a midsize electric pickup due the following year. Farley likened the coming EV generation’s importance to the Model T era for Ford’s identity.
Ford also reiterated big portfolio refresh numbers: 80% of North American volume and 70% of global volume refreshed by 2029, spanning the UEV truck, next-generation F-150, and larger F-Series Super Duty lines, plus new powertrain mixes and software layers.
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Find Automotive Roles →Electrification and Software Targets
By 2030, Ford aims for 90% of global nameplates to offer electrified powertrains—including hybrids, extended-range EVs, and full EVs—and for 90% of vehicles by volume to ship with updated electrical architectures, more in-house UX and hardware, and next-generation over-the-air update paths.
The roadmap also nods to BlueCruise and a scalable path toward a 2028 goal for eyes-off driving capability, subject to regulation and technical validation.
Context: EV Pullback and Prior Write-Downs
CNBC notes that Ford’s aggressive EV and software push has produced uneven results, including a December disclosure of a roughly $19.5 billion write-down tied partly to EV realignment—figures the story contrasts with a smaller comparable charge at General Motors. That backdrop helps explain why leadership is consolidating product creation and industrialization now rather than running parallel silos.
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Other Moves Mentioned
The same reporting cycle referenced additional changes touching advanced vehicle development and European manufacturing, though line-level reporting varies by outlet; readers should check Ford’s official release for the full org chart.
