Ford Motor Co. is cutting nearly 350 connected-vehicle software jobs in its effort to improve efficiency, according to a person familiar with the situation. The automaker has also hired a new chief accounting officer.
The 350 people work in the United States and Canada, but the person would not break out how many are located at the company's Dearborn-based headquarters. The affected employees, who made up about 5% of the connected-software team, were notified on May 13, the person said.
Ford spokesman Ian Thibodeau provided the following statement about the job cuts: "We consistently review our organization to make sure we are operating efficiently and effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment. We are making changes within our Connected Vehicle Software team to ensure we have the right talent and organization to deliver the world’s best next-generation connected vehicles. This will include some separations.”
Ford's next-gen electrical software
Thibodeau said the cuts are not related to the ongoing turmoil around President Donald Trump's tariffs on imported vehicles or parts or Ford’s decision to cancel development of a next-generation electrical software architecture.
Analysts asked CEO Jim Farley during the first-quarter earnings call about Ford's move to cancel development of the next-generation electrical software architecture. He said that for capital efficiency, Ford has merged some advanced software so it can offer new electrical software architecture at a lower price point than its previous generation. It will also enhance Ford's integrated services and software revenue and profitability, he said.
"This savings also has a big impact on the cost of our future products, so all of our products will be more affordable now," Farley said in the call. "In fact, we’re targeting our next-generation products to be cheaper than our current outgoing products and a big factor in that is" updated electrical software.
The connected-vehicle software team works on projects that include the newly launched Ford and Lincoln Digital Experience and they report to Doug Field, Ford’s chief EV, digital and design officer.
New top accountant
Ford also announced on May 13 that it has hired Kyle Crockett, who once worked for General Motors, as Chief Accounting Officer.
Crockett, who will join Ford on May 19, will be responsible for all aspects of Ford’s accounting function and internal control over financial reporting, the company said in a statement. His appointment will be effective the first business day after the company files its second quarter Form 10-Q, Ford said. Until then, he will serve as vice president of accounting, reporting to Chief Financial Officer Sherry House.