Ford has recruited a prominent Apple executive to lead a fresh division focused on providing software-based subscription services to car owners. The Dearborn, Michigan, automaker announced Monday that it has hired Peter Stern, who was Apple’s director of services. He will become the head of the Ford Integrated Services unit, which combines software and hardware into services. At Apple, Stern oversaw Apple TV plus, iCloud storage, Apple Books, arcade and fitness operations and other businesses, Ford said in a statement Monday. Stern started Monday and will report directly to CEO…

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Over the next few years, Ford Motor Co. anticipates a remarkable 1,000% surge in revenue from in-car software services, including its hands-free driving feature. To harness growth, the automaker announced Monday that it has hired former Apple Inc. executive vice president Peter Stern to lead a newly created technology-focused unit. Stern’s job is to grow Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driving system and develop other in-car services to sell to millions of owners. CEO Jim Farley aims to create a continuous revenue stream from software services that smooths out the ups and…

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Ford has revealed its plans to broaden the accessibility of its BlueCruise hands-free driving technology. Previously, customers were required to make a definitive choice regarding the inclusion of this feature when purchasing eligible models. However, Ford has now decided to make it a standard installation on all supported vehicles. Moreover, owners will have the flexibility to either opt for the service at the time of purchase or activate it later, selectively utilizing it for specific periods such as road trips. You still have the option to purchase the feature at…

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After a period of retooling, Ford has restarted production of the F-150 Lightning. The automaker has reopened its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, following a six-week shutdown aimed at enhancing efficiency and increasing production capacity. This move comes in response to the surge in demand for the popular EV, which saw a sixfold increase in orders after Ford reduced its price by $10,000. Starting this fall, the automaker says the Dearborn plant will be able to produce 150,000 units of the F-150 Lightning annually, triple its previous output.…

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According to The Washington Post, Ford’s CEO Jim Farley has revised the timeline for the company’s electric vehicle production goal. Instead of reaching the target of manufacturing 600,000 EV units per year by late 2023, Ford now anticipates achieving this milestone sometime in 2024. The delay is attributed to the implementation of lithium iron phosphate battery packs, which will aid in cost reduction and decrease reliance on materials like nickel that are susceptible to shortages. In the company’s earnings report (PDF), Farley explained that “the near-term pace of electric vehicle…

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In an effort to counter the emerging competition from Tesla Inc. and General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. is reducing the prices of its popular F-150 pickup’s electric variant by up to 17%. The F-150 Lightning Pro, the cheapest version of the electric car aimed at commercial buyers, now starts at $49,995. That’s about $10,000 less, but still more than the original $39,974 starting price when it went on sale in April 2022. The most affordable consumer model, the XLT, has also been cut by about $10,000 and now starts…

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