Ford cancels costly next-generation electrical architecture project

Ford EV Design Head Doug Field Clarifies Electrical Architecture Pivot

Last week, a report surfaced that Ford had opted to cancel its next-generation FNV4 (fully-networked vehicle) electrical architecture, a decision that was reportedly made amid soaring costs and delays. However, The Blue Oval later reached out to Ford Authority to explain that it wasn’t merely canceling this program, but rather, merging that particular effort with its existing, evolving architecture, while also developing a separate architecture that will be utilized in the company’s forthcoming low-cost EVs riding on a new platform in development by its skunkworks team. Now, Ford EV design head Doug Field is providing a bit more info on that pivot.

“Here’s our plan: We made the decision to take our future-state software project, which we internally call FNV4, and merge it with a program that evolves our existing architecture, called FNV3. This evolving version is called FNV3.X. We’re going to invest in and build on this architecture across a full portfolio of vehicles – not only electric vehicles and F-150s, but Mustangs, Broncos, Rangers, Transit Vans, and more.̶

The Blue Oval will re-focus on its existing technology and skunkworks team.
Ford was going to adopt a zonal system to form software updates easier.
Despite the alter, it’s committed to improved associated vehicle experiences.

Ford has been functional on an advanced next-generation electrical architecture for its future models aimed at streamlining software functions, cutting costs, and allowing it to better compete with EV leaders like Tesla. However, much like VW’s Cariad subsidiary, Ford’s program has encountered many issues and, according to three sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters, it has now been abruptly shut down.

Read: Flip-Flopping Ford Delays Electric Truck And Axes 3-Row EV Plans, Will Build Hybrids Instead

The internal name for this now-defunct system was FNV4. It was spearheaded by Doug Field, a former Apple and Tesla executive who joined Ford with much fanfare and, last year, took place a tidy $15.5 million for his efforts. Despite the memorable pedigree behind it, FNV4 reportedly became a financial burden. Ballooning development costs forced Ford to cancel the project altogether, though some elements will be repurpose

Commonized Electrical Architecture Can Bring Great New Features To All Fords And Lincolns, Not Just EVs

Despite embarrassing quality-control issues, well-publicized delays, exaggerations of its technical capabilities, and other problems, Tesla has been the darling of the automotive industry for many years. This company’s unique approach to building vehicles, and some of the game-changing features it’s introduced have pushed rival manufacturers to change how they develop and build cars and trucks, and this includes Ford. Mirroring some of the work Tesla's done, the blue oval has developed an improved vehicle electrical architecture that will bring cutting-edge new features to a broad spectrum of models, not just its all-electric products.

Divisions

Ford Model e, Ford Blue

Founded

1903

Founder

Henry Ford

Headquarters

Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.

Current CEO

Jim Farley

Ford scraps key software program after $10 billion in losses

Ford Motor has abruptly canceled its flagship software architecture project, known as FNV4, which executives once described as vital to competing with electric vehicle (EV) leaders like Tesla. The decision, revealed to select employees last week, ends a multi-year effort to modernize the digital foundation of Ford’s vehicle lineup and streamline costly software systems.

Three sources who spoke with Reuters reported that the project was facing an end due to rising costs and persistent delays. The team designed the now-defunct FNV4 to unify and simplify vehicle software across electric and gasoline models. This design aimed to enable faster over-the-air updates and to create new revenue opportunities through features like driver-assist subscriptions.

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Instead, Ford will integrate insights from FNV4 into its existing software platforms and continue development through its Skunkworks team in California, which focuses on building advanced digital systems and affordable EVs. A Ford spokesperson confirmed the pi

Ford Is Merging Old And New Ideas To Take On Tesla

Ford was planning to build a new electronic brain for its next-generation vehicles. An electrical architecture that the company had referred to as being pivotal in its efforts to compete with the likes of Tesla and Rivian for EV efficiency. It would cut costs, improve quality, and add features Ford could turn a profit on. The American automaker spent big bucks on bringing the system to market. Now, a new report says that Ford has dropped the project. A move that could have ongoing effects on the company's future products, like a next-gen F-150 Lightning, and its profits. Ford, though, describes the change differently.

Ford