Ford has tweaked its electric vehicle strategy in many ways over the past few years, all in response to a rapidly changing market. Amid slower than expected demand and technology limitations, The Blue Oval is more focused on smaller, more affordable EVs in the short term, vehicles that are simpler in terms of design as well. The automaker has also been working on developing a new electrical architecture over the past few years that was designed to help it better compete with the likes of Tesla, but now, it seems as if that project has been canceled.
According to Reuters, Ford has opted to nix its FNV4 (fully-networked vehicle) program, which it has invested heavily in with a goal of improving quality, cutting costs, and adding additional, profitable features to future models. Ultimately, delays and soaring costs are what sealed the architecture’s fate, but learnings from the program will be used in its current software program, regardless. Ford’s skunkworks EV team is also developing its own advanced electrical architecture, and that project remains on track.
FNV4 was intended to be a “zonal” system, one that bundles smaller software brains to control functions in certain parts of a vehicle and also communicate with a larger central brain, effectively shortening the length of pricey wiring harnesses and speeding up over-the-air-updates. Perhaps more notably, these types of advanced systems are also often used as a way to offer customers add-on subscription features such as BlueCruise. However, Farley recently revealed that the company’s low-cost EVs won’t offer advanced driver-assist systems such as Level 3 autonomy.
Ultimately, FNV4 contributed heavily to Ford’s losses on software and EVs over the past couple of years, totaling $4.7 billion in 2023 and $5 billion in 2024, which is what sealed its fate. However, the automaker remains on track in terms of developing other types of electrical architectures, regardless. “We are committed to delivering fully connected vehicle experiences across our entire lineup, regardless of powertrain, while many others in the industry are bringing the most advanced tech only to electric vehicles,” a Ford spokesperson said.
May 5th update: Ford subsequently reached out to us to explain that elements of this project are being integrated into its lineup, and that a separate electrical architecture is being developed for its upcoming low-cost EV platform. For more information, see our follow up story here.
Comments
Good riddance. Was a waste of time and money. EV tech is changing so fast, best to sit it out and patiently wait. Not losing many sales anyway.
“Ultimately, FNV4 contributed heavily to Ford’s losses on software and EVs over the past couple of years, totaling $4.7 billion in 2023 and $5 billion in 2024,”
But this kind of improvement could be included in every Ford product giving them all the ability to be remotely updated or tweaked resulting in a far better product. Imagine infinite wiper speed control for an easy one. Seems like Ford is backing away from EV tech which is a mistake because Slate is coming and it has far more legs and potential to kill Ford than anything I have seen in years.
Wait, you mean to tell me that the company that can’t get a freaking BlueCruise update out in 3 years finally admits they can’t do software????
No, I don’t believe it.
gm just released enhanced software update for SuperCruise for ALL 2018 thru 2024 vehicles! Why can’t Ford do it with BlooperCruise?
You all may hate Tesla but they know what they are doing when it comes to a software driven car. Teslas get a major update every month fixing problems and introducing new features customers love.
If Ford wants to play at all in this space they better get their act together fast.
No wonder I am seeing more Teslas in my neighborhood every day and less Fords.
Teslas can become the most popular car on the road, but they are also literal death traps. They have the highest fatality rate of any car brand. What was that about a software driven car? Think I’ll pass and live a little longer.
Hell Ford hasn’t been able to fix the software problems with sync 3 what makes them think they can do any software program right.
If yall hate Ford so much drive something else? Love my Edge and can’t wait for them to drop 0% on an Explorer so I can get one of those too.