There was a time, not too long ago, when it seemed like Ford was keen to share electrical architectures and platforms with more than one of its rivals. However, even as the relatively new Explorer and Capri EVs do in fact utilize Volkswagen’s MEB platform, The Blue Oval has since shifted to making its own such things, including the under-development platform that will underpin more than one future low-cost EV model. As it turns out, Ford CEO Jim Farley believes that sharing these architectures with partners can complicate that relationship a bit – even as he sees a major consolidation coming between auto brands.
“The complication of partnerships, even though there’ll be huge pressure to do it, is electrical architectures. Huawei and Xiaomi are in almost every vehicle in China and all those systems will not be accepted by places like the U.S. So, it’s going to be difficult to use someone else’s platform but have your own electric architecture,” Farley said at the recent Wolfe Research Auto, Auto Tech and Semiconductor Conference.
“So, I think that will make it difficult between the West and the East to kind of find good partnerships. Maybe in a Europe it’ll work, maybe in a South America or Thailand, Oceania, Middle East it’ll work fine. But in places like the U.S. It could be very, very tricky. Biden just put out the law on this kind of intelligent vehicle and I think that’ll be a big issue for partnerships.”
Years ago, Ford planned on using Rivian’s Skateboard platform for an all-electric Lincoln model, but ultimately nixed that plan – and its partnership with the automaker – not only due to its desire to develop its own platforms, but also, because of the complications involved with getting it to work with another manufacturer’s models. Despite this, Volkswagen recently inked its own deal with Rivian that will result in the latter sharing software and co-developed platforms with the former, too.
Comments
Farley is a real tool.
I think it’s right to be cautious about platform sharing between manufacturers – it creates a lot of complexity. Remember not many years ago that in the same showroom (and more importantly, the same service department), there were Fords developed by Volvo, Mazda, Ford of Europe, and Dearborn, all with different underlying systems and supply chains.
I’m convinced that’s why we lost the Transit Connect, because the new model is a VW underneath and would cost a fortune to support in North America.
Jim Farley seems to state the obvious. His focus should be on product quality of Ford products. Recalls are hurting Ford’s reputation.
“Biden just put out the law on this kind of intelligent vehicle”
– Strange that Mr. Farley is still talking about President Biden.
“Farley said at the recent Wolfe Research Auto, Auto Tech and Semiconductor Conference”
That was early February when he “recently” said that, so it’s not strange.
Sharing platforms will save costs, all brsnds are looking to partships except Ford ! In Europe Renault was looking for a partner since years and Jim choose the worst one VW ! Looks like that couple’s where one cheat the other but always forgive, this is the relation Ford with VW since more then 30 years …