As the electric vehicle market continues to heat up with the introduction of increasingly affordable options, Ford is bolstering its team by recruiting some of the industry’s top EV engineers to stay competitive. In recent months, Ford has leveraged experts from leading electric vehicle manufacturers, including Tesla, Rivian, Apple, and Lucid, to accelerate the development of affordable EV options.
A guess on affordability
In February, Ford CEO Jim Farley disclosed that the company had initially conceptualized a plan to create a budget-friendly electric vehicle (EV) platform approximately two years prior.
Farley characterized this venture as an independent startup distinct from the company’s core activities. While Ford’s team may be compact, its roster boasts an impressive array of the world’s leading electric vehicle engineering talent.
The team comprises a group of Tesla engineers, along with Alan Clarke, who contributed to the development of the Tesla Model Y. According to records, the crew had fewer than 100 personnel just a few months ago.
The latest data indicates that the group’s numbers have surged to approximately 300 members within a remarkably short period. Over the past year, the company has seen significant talent influx, with around 50 employees arriving from Rivian, more than 20 from Tesla, and approximately 12 from Canoo. The acquisition also incorporated 10 employees from Lucid and a handful from Apple’s discontinued electric vehicle project, Project Titan.
Ford taps into Rivian and Tesla’s expertise to develop affordable electric vehicles.
Following the influx of Rivian employees, including many engineers, in the latter half of 2023, our recruitment efforts gained momentum this year?
Ford has collaborated with Tesla’s Gigacasting team, tapping the expertise of a senior design engineer to drive down costs and achieve its objectives. Earlier this year, Farley highlighted that the final competitors will likely come from the affordable Tesla option and Chinese Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
Following Rivian’s announcement that it would be reducing its workforce by 10% in February, the company embarked on a hiring spree. Ford acquired approximately two dozen additional Rivian engineers to aid in the development of affordable electric vehicles. In May, Ford announced the introduction of Canoo’s former VP of engineering.
Ford has also leveraged the expertise of pioneering electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) companies such as Joby, Archer Aviation, and Hyundai’s Supernal.
While Ford doesn’t reveal much, they do confirm that their team is officially referred to as the “Ford Superior EV” internally.
Ford’s Chief Electric Vehicle, Digital, and Design Officer, Doug Field, stated, “Our Ford Superior EV team is contributing to a global initiative to establish localized expertise and product development hubs at some of our most advanced technology centers.”
“This team is the main event for pioneering electric vehicle innovations and cutting-edge technologies.”
Ford has hinted that the platform’s versatility will enable it to support a diverse range of vehicles, paving the way for numerous launches. The new technology is also expected to be used across various departments within the company, including Ford Professional.
Ford’s first all-electric Explorer emerged from its Cologne production line in Germany last week. Ford is poised to unveil a novel electric sports utility vehicle built upon Volkswagen’s versatile MEB platform, widely expected to revive the iconic Capri as an all-electric variant.
Electrek’s Take
As Ford appears to gear up for a competitive battle, it initiates a hiring spree in response to the impending influx of affordable electric vehicles (EVs). Kia kicked off orders for its newest electric vehicle, the EV3, in South Korea last week, with a starting price tag of $30,700 (approximately KRW 42.08 million). It’s expected to launch in the US market at a starting price of around $35,000.
Next year, Kia plans to debut the EV4, slated to start at approximately $35,000. South Korean automaker Hyundai’s sister company has released the first glimpse of its upcoming budget-friendly electric vehicle, the INSTER EV.
Volkswagen has finished designing its ID.2 all, with a planned launch later this year starting at approximately $27,000 (€25,000) for the base model. Rivian recently announced its new, more affordable model, the R1T, in addition to unveiling its smaller R2 earlier this year. The new electric vehicle is expected to debut in 2026 with a starting price of approximately forty-five thousand dollars.
While not aligned with major Chinese car manufacturers such as BYD. Will Ford successfully carve out a niche in the burgeoning low-cost electric vehicle market? Ford aims to revolutionize its electric vehicle technology by recruiting a select group of top-notch EV engineers from around the world.
Will Ford’s stock prices continue to rise, or will they plateau and potentially decline in value over time, as the company faces increased competition in the automotive market and grapples with the ongoing shift towards electric vehicles? The feedback provided lacks clarity and does not convey the editor’s suggestions clearly. To improve this, I will revise the text to make my thoughts more concise and direct:
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