Ford is ramping up efforts to enter the affordable electric vehicle (EV) market by recruiting top engineers from Tesla, Rivian, Apple, and Lucid.
Strategic Expansion of Ford in EV Development
Ford CEO Jim Farley disclosed in February that two years ago, Ford initiated a project to create a dedicated startup within the company focused on developing a cost-effective EV platform. Despite its modest size, Electrek reported that Farley noted that this team comprises some of the most talented EV engineers globally.
The team now comprises numerous engineers from Tesla, including Alan Clarke, who was involved in the Tesla Model Y project. The team was small just a few months ago, with fewer than 100 members. However, it has rapidly expanded to approximately 300 members.
Recent data indicates that 50 employees joined from Rivian, over 20 from Tesla, and about 12 from Canoo over the past year. Additionally, Ford recruited 10 employees from Lucid Motors and a few from Apple's discontinued Project Titan electric car initiative.
Ford ramped up its hiring spree after recruiting numerous Rivian engineers in the latter half of 2023. This year, the pace of hiring has intensified, highlighted by the addition of a senior design engineer experienced with Tesla's Gigacasting team, a move aimed at reducing costs.
Earlier this year, Farley emphasized their focus on competing against affordable Tesla models and Chinese OEMs. Ford's hiring surged after Rivian announced a 10% workforce reduction in February.
Capitalizing on this opportunity, Ford recruited approximately 12 additional engineers from Rivian to bolster its efforts in developing affordable electric vehicles. In another strategic move, Ford welcomed Canoo's former VP of engineering to its team in May.
Moreover, Ford has expanded its talent pool by recruiting experts from prominent electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) companies such as Joby and Archer Aviation and Hyundai's Supernal. Ford did not disclose extensive details but told TechCrunch that internally, the team is referred to as "Ford Advanced EV."
The Ford logo is displayed on the front of a brand new Ford Escape SUV on the sales lot at Journey Ford on June 4, 2013 in Novato, California. (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Driving Innovation in EV Development
Doug Field, Ford's chief EV, digital, and design officer, noted that the Ford Advanced EV team plays a pivotal role in a global effort to establish specialized technology and product development teams near key talent centers.
He underscored the team's leadership in innovating advanced EV products and technologies. Ford has indicated that the platform will be versatile and capable of launching various vehicle types. It is anticipated that its application will extend across other sectors within the company, including Ford Pro.
Ford recently celebrated a milestone: Last week, its first all-electric Explorer started the production line at its Cologne plant in Germany. Ford is also set to reveal a new electric sports crossover, which is expected to be an electric Capri based on Volkswagen's MEB (modular electric drive matrix) platform.
