The ongoing pivot toward large scale EV production has produced some strange bedfellows, namely the Blue Oval’s extensive partnership with Volkswagen. Although the transition hasn’t resulted in a dramatic culling of the automaker’s internal combustion lineup, in the coming years, the company’s offerings may feature engines and transmission from outside companies. That’s based on recent comments from a Ford executive, who suggested that the company may leave powertrain production to other companies.
As first reported by Automotive News, Ford Vice Chair John Lawler spoke at the 2025 Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference about constraints facing automakers that have to finance internal combustion and fully electric vehicle development. Cutting costs is one of the more obvious ways that the company can better position itself against its competitors, and based on his comments, Ford is very likely thinking about moving away from producing engines and transmissions to a model that utilizes powertrains sourced from other companies.
“I think powertrains — ICE powertrains over time are going to need to consolidate, and they’re not going to be differentiated. I don’t think that consumers really think about powertrains the way they did 30 years ago, where it defined what a vehicle was, the horsepower, the displacement, the torque and everything about the vehicle, I think a lot of that is gone. And so does everybody need to develop the next 4-cylinder and 6- cylinder as that arc comes?”
As vice chair, Lawler’s responsibilities include a focus on strategy, partnerships, and alliances, according to the automaker. That he means his comments may preview the Blue Oval’s long term plans to rely on outside companies for engines and transmissions. As for timing, any powertrain production shift would be years away, if the 2023 UAW bargaining agreement’s terms remain unchanged into 2028. Ford is planning to keep producing its 8-speed and 10-speed automatic transmissions for at least another three years, along with its EcoBoost and naturally aspirated V8 engines. Beyond that, the company could take advantage of its current partnerships for future vehicles. As Ford Authority recently reported, Lawler himself said internal combustion engines aren’t going away anytime soon, so it would have to rely on outsourcing if it planned to move away from homegrown powertrains.
What would a future without Ford powertrains look like? Europe could provide the answer. The VW-based Ford Transit Connect uses Ford EcoBoost and EcoBlue branding throughout its lineup, despite the fact that the powertrains were fully developed by the German automaker. The partnership also enabled Ford to build the Explorer and Capri EVs off the VW MEB platform. Additionally, Ford builds the Ranger-based Amarok pickup and Transit Custom based Transporter for the company, complete with Blue Oval engines and transmissions, so it’s reasonable to assume the company could walk away from producing powertrains for certain vehicle segments in favor of a mixed model.
Comments
TAKE THE 5.0L OUT OF THE MUSTANG AND WATCH IT DIE
Amen. Also the F150. I have a 2016 F150 5.0 coyote and I will buy a crate engine before I succumb to eco crap
Ford’s weak spot has been powertrains for decades. I can remember engine failures from the 90s, clearly.
Do you have data to support that claim regarding current vehicles? I have two Ford vehicles with a combined 200k miles. The engines and transmissions have been flawless.
He does not have any data, he’s a serial WHINER about every ford authority story, perhaps a let-go former disgruntled line worker, who know’s why?
I was 16 in 1996, and I knew personally 5 people who’s 93-97 Taurus’ blew a head gasket. I had a 93 Thunderbird with a V6. It blew a head gasket. It was right at about 65k miles when that happened.
Most of my cars have been a Ford. I drive a 2017 Explorer Platinum now.
But Ford definitely had a problem with their V6’s in the 90s and it was very bad that they didn’t do a recall.
Name one, please. The 90s were the end of Windsor and Lima V8 engine production and the start of the Modular motor program. Windsor’s and Lima’s were about bulletproof. Early Modular’s had spark plug issues that were remedied by the early 2000’s. Vulcan V6s were basic but problem free and the Duratec 24V V6 is still an exceptionally stout engine although the front drive version does have the integral water pump challenge. The only engine I can think of that was remotely problematic was the Essex 90 degree V6 that had Head Gasket issues. Even those were relatively rare in the real world. It was a very solid lineup overall
I can remember engine failures earlier than that. 2.3 4 banger for one.
That is not true. The Modular V8 is an engine well loved by the police because of its durability. The Duratecs in cars like the Taurus were also pretty solid and considered one of the more reliable V6 engines up there with GMs 3800. Ford engines also typically fare better than several GM and especially Chrysler engines.
The problem is you have m0r0n$ like this guy and Hackett who run the company like its a laundry detergent or office furniture manufacturer make these self-assumed decisions and then they wonder why the company is losing market share. Or maybe they don’t even wonder and are completely clueless because they have their heads so far up their tailpipes to notice.
Can’t really say that this is a bad idea. STELLANTIS has been sourcing the diesel engine for the RAM 2500-5500 forever. Airplane builders have been sourcing jet engines from various manufactures forever. Would anyone on board an AMTRAK train really care what type of locomotive is pulling the train? Most bus builders source their engines from CUMMINS while PREVOST uses VOLVO engines since they are owned by them and that new MERCEDES BENZ TOURRIDER uses DETROIT DIESEL since they are owned by DAIMLER. I still recall from the 1970’s how upset many OLDSMOBILE owners when it came to light that their cars had CHEVROLET engines? If I had been one of those people, my reaction would have been…Ok so what who cares what difference does it make when I turn the key to start the engine and drive the car? They were using a GM sister division anyway not like it from FORD or CHRYSLER. If they had, wouldn’t have bothered me.
I’m sure the FORD stalwarts will be angry but again, why should it make any difference?
FORD doesn’t build tires either. Why should is make the slightest difference about engines either? As long as it propels the vehicle who cares?
Why should that make any difference?
You buy a car or truck not the engine.
6.2 from Corvette would be ideal engine for Mustang! Maybe put a little Chevy badge under Mustang name.
yeah, that ultra reliable 6.2 sounds like a great idea
6.2 in Corvette is not affected by current problem in trucks.
That is correct. The 6.2 is built in Detroit for the Corvette
The truck 6.2 use crankshafts from Mexico…..
Why…so the Mustang can sell even in less numbers than it currently does?
Grow a brain
Pass on the LS/LT swap the world BS. The day Ford shoves a GM sourced V8 into the Mustang is the day I swear off Ford forever. Also, the LT2 benefits from the C8 Corvette’s packaging and one of the reasons why the LT2 makes 495 hp in the C8 (intake and exhaust packaging are mostly responsible). The LT1 which was designed with a front engine/rear drive layout in mind and one of the reasons why it only makes 455 hp. Why would Ford want to lose 45 hp going with a competitor engine when they have an engine that makes 500 hp now.
I have had only 1 Ford in the last 11 years that had an issue and that 2014 Ford Focus powershift which Ford took care of under warranty a few times. Have not had an engine or transmission issue with any of the Escape, Edges, EcoSport, Bronco Sport. Take care of them, and you will get many happy miles. I remember head gaskets on the 3.8 V/6 in the Windstar and the Taurus which let coolant into the engine, those were bad. I remember the head gaskets going in the Ford Escorts, transmission going in the Taurus built in the nineties, oil leaks from the 2.8 and the 4.0 V/6. There were plenty of bad powertrains in the 90’s.
What does the chief bean counter know about marketing and power trains? Powertrains are a point of differentiation. Lose that and what differentiation are car companies going to give their customers?
What does a striped cat know about the auto industry?
Tigger knows everything!
I don’t know who they asked, many buyers still care about power trains and selection. He’s full $hit !!
He absolutely is. They’re looking for ways to reduce costs/increase revenue as easily as possible..
This guy is clueless and needs to go back to janitorial services.
Powertrain, perfomance, reliability are all impotant for a vehicle and oh by the way what do consumers want?
I prefer a v8 over any ecoshit enhine
These executives need to be fired. The engine is the heart of the vehicle. You’re going to leave that to a third party.
Idiot !!!!!
I never say this but this time I must. Get rid of this guy unless he reverses course a hundred eighty degrees.
If this Lawler guy gives anyone any guff at all sit him down and walk him through the Ford/Navistar debacle.
Ford trucks are still paying the reputation price for that era.
Maybe for entry level 4 cylinders for commuter cars. No one really cares about those.
For specialty stuff like ecoboost v6’s and v8’s, no.
Before I bought our F150 Powerboost I was searching for one with the Coyote 5.0 Litre V8. They were pretty scarce though, so I started looking at the 3.5 Ecoboost models. When I finally decided to buy, Ford had a special half off discount on the Powerboost (hybrid) option. That was pretty attractive to me, as we pull a camper trailer and sometimes like to boondock; the 20 amp electrical outlet comes in handy.
Guess this guy doesn’t remember someone else engineering and building the focus transmission
Ford didn’t build the Focus automatic, it was foreign product. So, there you have it!
Except Ford installed it in their vehicles, so in my book they own it! Lock, stock and barrel!
I hope Ford never forgets the PowerShift debacle. It ruined the reputation of an otherwise excellent small car, the Focus. Ford should have cut its losses early and either replaced the PowerShift’s with a conventional 6-speed automatic or bought the cars back. The Focus would still be sold in he US if the reputation hadn’t been destroyed by that shgortsighted move.
I care deeply about power trains. That is what leads me to a certain brand or vehicle. Sounds like my lifetime of buying Fords may be in jeopardy.
If a car company can build their own power trains maybe it’s time to do something else.
Might as well sell the company to VW, and call it a day if they Ford mgmt doesn’t have the will or interest to engineer and manufacture it’s own products.
Some potential customers may not, but I can assure you, others will. I’d make of those supposed numbers before I’d go making any concrete decisions. Will a VW dealership fix the engine/transmission in your Ford?
Losing control of your brand reputation would certainly be worth the gamble, don’t you think?
No one would buy ram heavy duty trucks over Ford if it wasn’t for the Cummins. Guy is an idiot.
Bill Ford needs to wake up and get this clown and Farley as far away from the company as possible. Between the billions wasted on chasing the EV rabbit hole and gutting the product lines they’ve done enough damage.
Bill Ford was the one who wanted the EV push.
Unfortunately most of the things that poor junior touched turned to crap since he took over as Chairman 25 years ago.
Ford Vice Chair John Lawler should be shown the door !
Another bad decision maker in the Ford’s upper management team.
Billy boy – You need to bring back real auto engineers back into management positions.
Make quality vehicles that people want, and have no issues.
Between him and idiot Farley there will be no reason to ever buy a Ford ever again. They only care about their fat pay check not the product. Guess what, their payday will end!
Nope. Not gonna happen. At least not in the USA. This is Euro-babble. They like the ‘one world’, ‘one-society’, progressive approach that will not work in the America’s. We have a culture of pride and individuality. The fun banter over who’s car or truck is better – Chevy vs. Ford vs. Dodge/Ram/Jeep, etc. The woke of the US will still run their PHEV/EV’s and school the ICE folk about their evil ways. The ICE folk will continue to pass them by on the side of the road charging. And the brand wars will continue to be fueled by which engines are better and more powerful than the other.
Jesus, powertrain defines the car. It may look cool, but without a pedigreed drivetrain it is worthless.
Does he think loyalty comes from a logo? Not a chance.
Another short-sighted, bottom line looking manager at Ford, willing to sell out engineering and design skill to fatten the bottom line.
Obviously Bill Ford is incapable of surrounding himself with quality people.
The problem starts in his office. Time for him to retire
It’s F time to F Fire Lawler !!!! You F clowns put an engine built by anyone but Ford, especially the F EU crap, and I will completely stop buying Lincolns!!!!!!
iT’S THAT F SIMPLE !!!! F ME AND I WILL DEFINATELY F YOU !!!!!!!
You better bring back all the engineer’s that you F fired over the recent years !!!
That’s strange…. If people didn’t care about powertrains… Why is the 2026 Ram 1500 coming back with a Hemi??? This guy is a ass-hat!!
Another Ford executive living in la-la land and saying things they know nothing about.
Why not hire car guys to run this company? The current hired guns make tens of millions of dollars per year and don’t know a car from a rowboat. This idiot sounds like his boss – a liberal “force them to buy EVs so we don’t lose money on the things”.
Ford can outsource anything it wants – maybe in the future all they’ll make is the blue oval emblems for the car nose and rear.
By the way, the 2.0L EcoBoost is a great engine. Had one in 2013 in a Fusion and another one in 2024 in an Escape. Tell the cupcake executives at Ford to fire more people like them and hire some real car guys.
I remember a few years ago Ford said customers have permanently moved on from cars, they only will look for SUVs and trucks now. They really seem to have everything figured out. Ford stock at an avg $10 for 30+ years shows it.
Keep making powertrains in house and get rid of Lawler. Fords issues are coming from being an accounting driven company.
We still care about power trains, only the xyz gen who know nothing about them dont care. More interested in tech and thats it.
I have 3 Fords. I hope to replace the F 250 4×4 with a F 350 4×4 soon. I have a 2015 Edge with a V 6 AWD. I can’t replace it with another Edge, which I would love to do, but Ford decided to discontinue such a reliable and successful vehicle. My 3rd Ford is a 2019 Mustang GT, and I have no intentions of replacing it unless insurance is replacing it.
The engine and/or power train were important in all of them. When I bought my F250 I told my salesman I needed 4×4. He promptly told me I didn’t need 4X4. You should have sen his face when I stood up and started to walk out saying, “You don’t know what I need”. The salesman changed his tune; I wonder if this executive will.
I thought you already outsourced the engines for Ford?
That’s why they DON’T WORK!!
In the original Taurus[1986 g, 3.0 or 3.5 V6L N/A Yamaha],
WAS AWESOME and the longest lasting engine 435,000, mile that I have every owned.
ALL the Eco-Crap engines are CRAP!
Ford has a HUGE loyalty problem, which was all self inflicted, and caused by GREED, QUALITY CONTROL, and POOR MANAGMENT!
I don’t think Ford can have anymore recalls,
[69 and counting as of today in 2025], from cheap failing parts, but I have been wrong before and I am shore Ford will NOT LET ME DOWN!!
I swore I would never ever own a German or Japanese vehicle, because of family members that have fought for our country in WWI, and WWII.
Henry Ford is spinning in his grave for what you have done to his company!
My next vehicle will most like be from a S. Korea.
Most people DON’T want EV’S!!!
AMEN!
Wow. Just based on the number of comments this issue obviously hit a few nervs. I doubt Ford actually reads this stuff or gives a rat’s butt what its customer think but maybe they should. Spec engines are ruining NASCAR’s lower divisions (trucks and ARCA) and will ruin any car company that can’t build their own. At this rate there will eventually be no reason to have more than one auto manufacturer other than anti-trust issues and I seriously doubt that the globalist progressives care about that either. Their minions, ubers and shuttle buses do their driving for them.
Look at all the old, disgruntled whites in this comment section. Buncha fools with too much time on their hands. SCEcoBoost, Tigger and all the other senile old folks spew some of the most worthless garbage I’ve ever seen on this forum. Give it a rest.
Nice racist comment. If you don’t like it go elsewhere. Now be a good little boy and do some coloring.
Lawler needs to catch a fast boat to China and stay there!
I’m at the age and income where powertrains greatly matter. Consider me a traditional car guy who will buy the last V8’s made for next my truck and next enthusiast car. If it’s not FORD, I can move to Dodge or GM. Currently own 5.0 F150 and supercharged 5.0 Mustang.
engines are “undifferentiated” because the OE cut and paste each other’s strategies. Of course nobody cares if they get a hyundai with a boring 2L inline four, or the Ford with the boring 2L inline four. Make some interesting engines and people will notice.
My guess is that the chief bean counter is looking at all the money Ford is making on Ford Pro and selling customer data. Then, he is looking at all the production costs and he is thinking, if they can outsource powertrain production, they can also outsource all that risk (i.e. the gazillion Ford recalls) and offload those costs too. What Lawler is saying without saying it, is that Ford has lost control of its ability to physically produce quality products.
Is he nuts? A Ford Motor Co. that does not make motors?!
That’s what a bean counter would say who’s not in product development.
The right powertrain for the platform means everything. A Bronco Sport with a 1.5 3-cyl is terrible compared to the 2.0L. The Explorer with a 2.3L is equally as underpowered.
Ask Dodge how things are going when they got rid of the V8. They have a commercial with the CEO apologizing.
Decades ago Ford suggested making the Mustang a front wheel drive vehicle without a V8. People like myself wrote letters to Ford informing them of our displeasure. I watched a documentary about the Mustang and when the “ front wheel drive Mustang” concept, the Ford exec stated” when that was put forth Ford received hundreds of thousands of letters informing us how stupid we were. They even challenged our ancestry ( the were called SOB’s). Trust me they listen.
His statement shows how disconnected he is with the enthusiast world. Your most loyal customers are the ones who care about what’s under the hood.
If you care about performance you get an EV. The difference is only getting wider too.
Every person in my family buys based on the motor. This brand has that motor, that other brand is a v6. And so on. None of them are EV’s. That Ford exec needs fired. He is clueless. All Ford does is push paper.
Typical out of touch Executive Opinion. Ask any one that tows whether the powertrain matters! Exactly why I did not purchase a Ford with my last purchase (Ford is out of touch with what matters). Oh Yeah, I’m a former employee that get a degree after working for Ford but still supported Ford because my father retired from Ford. But no more. Like most America Manufacturing, poor management is destroying an American advantage in the name of profits.
Of course nobody cares about gasoline powertrains, if you want performance you get an EV.
Ford Vice Chair John Lawler should be removed from that job, and probably any other job.
Ford should pay attention to Dodge Chrysler. Can’t give EV’s away.
They better fire the woke manager.
Think who ever the exec is they spoken with is not suited for his title. Following the same path as Stellantis is not a winning strategy. People greatly care about power train. Otherwise they wouldn’t be bringing the hemi back on line
As an expedition owner, I loved my V8. As soon as Ford started throwing in the V6, I’ve started to look at different vehicles, like a super duty. Of course I will only look for a 7.3 turbo diesel that isn’t trash or the new 6.7 diesels. The 6.4 was a complete disaster and the 6.0 diesel is only good if you bullet proof it. Ford seriously needs to take a look at what they offer in their vehicles, trust us, we care.
Looking at all the issues with Ford, it seems there German Engineering has been a really weak point and an engineering failure…..
I would ask Ford to look at what happened with Dodge and the Hemi! Then rethink.
Ford thinks powertrains have no bearing on sheeple buying their cars. Well, If they go that route, there are plenty of vehicles out their which are not exciting and disposable that people could buy for a lot less money. Ford will have no product to sell. Bold out of the box thinking is what brings customers to the table. Personally, If it wasn’t;t for the Mustang, I wouldn’t buy another ford product. My wife drives Lincolns and I feel they’re underpowered for the price you pay. The Expedition/Navigator should have a V8 option.
It seems like Ford doesn’t care about the core Ford owners and drivers. In stead of continued engine improvement, Ford just wants to give up, thinking just to save money to develope EVs, and to loose their soul in the long term. As for me, I’m entering my later years. I would just buy a good used performance Ford for the rest of my life, than buy a Ford w/o a superior Ford engine, or an EV. Ford just needs new management.
GM full size SUVs outsell Ford full size SUVs 5 to 1, I wonder if Americans just need V8 noises.
The problem with Ford still lies with its CEO Jim Farley. Jim’s constant yearning to outsource everything possible has ruined Ford. The best and only way to control your business, and what goes into your product , is Built It Yourself! Build quality in, use inspections to verify don’t just assume! Over the years of my past Ford Vehicles, I never had a Engine Failure due to anything. Today they buy cheap parts, don’t inhouse manufacture things, just assemble stuff. And do that assembly whenever possible in a third world county to cut costs even more, all while publicly lying to the press and stock holders to keep confidence high and stock prices up.
When all they need to do is once again use Henry Fords concept and build their own parts, manufacture in house, and assemble with People trained to do a quality job, this creates a quality vehicle that drives demand and sells more. Jim’s ideas to sell less, charge more per unit, and cut costs of manufacturing to the bone while automation replaced quality checks , obviously isn’t working well. But Jim doesn’t care as long as his pay is in the bank!
He is amazingly both right and wrong at the same time. Most “high performance cars” are already powered beyond the usable range of most drivers in the cars intended use case (the road) and as such an extra 100hp for 2x the cost of the car is rarely going to get more eyes than the already die hards. The “numbers war” with BMW/Mercedes, Ford/Dodge/Chevrolet have reached comical numbers and outside of a base GT which somehow is near the same cost as they were in the early ninties (including inflation) are priced out of almost everyones range.
What people want is experience. For the avg person 400hp and 480hp is negligible but what they do want is the noise, the mechanical experience, the burst of acceleration, these experiences are driven by the type of engine but I’d bet if they made a single V8 with just tuning differences (aside from cooling etc, just the engine) they could save. Mountain of money.
Doesn’t matter who makes it as long as it doesn’t break and has some personality.
Ok then by all means start using Toyota Japan powerplants. Not toyota usa must be from Japan if it’s to be reliable anymore. Maybe Ford should just not listen to whoever this idiot is. I absolutely care about powerplant and who makes the major components of my vehicle. It’s kinda the point.
It would not be unreasonable to return to what Ford was doing from the late 80’s up to the 10’s and buy all of their I4s and related gearboxes from Mazda. The quality issues Ford ran into with some of those motors is nothing compared to the Ecoboost I3 and I4 issues that they have had.
Ford Vice Chair John Lawler is an idiot. After owning 9+ Fords, the only thing I care about is the powertrain. And whoever missed the opportunity to put a Coyote V8 with a 10 speed in a Ford Bronco Raptor at Ford should be flogged and publicly shamed for the rest of their lives and their children’s lives.
Well like most mahogany row executives, they know nothing about their product as they are 3-5 year revolving doors of failure, each leaving a bigger mess to fix for the next.
I’ve been a Ford guy since 1984. I bought my 24 F250 platium 6.7 HO truck BECAUSE of the engine and transmission! The recent budget cut generation of vehicles is wearing thin though, take options away, raise the price is going to hit a brick wall, and I’m not buying an electric truck, period.
Ford outsourcing engines is not new…sure everyone that bought a 6.0 / 6.4 Navistar built Powerstroke will remember how good that worked out. also the Mazda built Courier pickup in the 70s.,Ford has a history of that. and if Lawler is thinking adding or warranty claims to the list, just use Volkswagen Ice engines…and it need a bailout….if they want to sub out anything…it should be the electric motor…not the ice…Ford needs a quality control chief in the glasshouse and fast.and get some engineers who know how to make and design realiable simple engines again