Ford hires a former Apple employee to run its new unit for software subscription services. (AP) News 

Ford Appoints Apple Executive to Lead Software Subscription Services Division

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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Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley is aiming to create a continuing revenue stream from software services . (REUTERS) News 

Ford CEO Forecasts Huge Increase in In-Car Software Services

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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The upcoming 1.3 version is available in 3-year, 1-year or monthly packages. News 

Ford Offers BlueCruise Driver Assist as Subscription Service

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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The company expects to triple production after upgrading the factory. News 

Ford Restarts Production of F-150 Lightning After Six-Week Hiatus

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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It now believes it can get to 600,000 EVs per annum in 2024 instead of later this year. News 

Ford Delays Electric Vehicle Production Goal by One Year

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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The F-150 Lightning Pro, the cheapest version of the electric truck aimed at commercial buyers, now starts at $49,995. (REUTERS) News 

Ford Reduces Cost of F-150 Electric Model by up to 17%

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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The automaker says improved plant capacity and lower costs are helping it sell the electric truck for less. News 

Ford Reduces Cost of F-150 Lightning by $10,000

Ford is reducing the price of the F-150 Lightning by up to $10,000, making the electric truck more affordable. The base model, F-150 Lightning Pro, will now cost $49,995, a decrease of nearly $10,000. The highest-end model, Platinum Extended Range, will see a price reduction of just over $6,000, bringing its price to $91,995. The automaker says enhanced production capacity, its ongoing efforts to scale costs and production, and improved battery raw material costs are helping it push prices back down. Its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Michigan is closed…

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The car manufacturer previously declared a $171.1 million loss for 2023's first quarter. News 

Lordstown Motors files for bankruptcy and takes legal action against Foxconn

Lordstown Motors is experiencing a tumultuous day, as the electric vehicle company from Ohio has submitted a request for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an attempt to locate a purchaser. Additionally, the company is taking legal action against its investment partner, Foxconn Technology, for violating the contract and committing fraud. Lordstown alleges that Foxconn’s actions were deliberate and aimed at ruining the operations of an American startup. Foxconn, known primarily for assembling Apple’s iPhones, bought the Lordstown, Ohio plant in late 2021 (around the time General Motors jumped on board)…

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It's the biggest loan yet from the US Department of Energy's Loan Program Office. News 

US Department of Energy Grants Ford $9.2 Billion Loan for EV Battery Factories

According to Bloomberg, the US Department of Energy’s Loan Program Office (LPO) has granted a conditional $9.2 billion loan to BlueOval SK (BOSK), a joint venture between Ford and South Korean battery manufacturer SK On, to construct three battery manufacturing facilities. This move reaffirms the US government’s commitment to domestic EV production rather than relying on foreign entities. The loan is the largest LPO has issued to date – almost four times the size of last year’s $2.5 billion loan to Ultium Cell – a joint venture between General Motors…

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Ford, great-grandson of founder Henry Ford, said he sees an opportunity for Ford engineers to understand the technology. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) (AP) News 

Ford Executive Declares America Lacking in Electric Vehicle Technology Compared to China

According to Bill Ford Jr., the Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Co., the United States is not yet fully equipped to rival China in the manufacturing of electric vehicles. He also mentioned that his company is adopting an all-inclusive strategy to get ready for the competition. “They developed very quickly, and they’ve developed them on a large scale, and now they’re taking,” Ford said in an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS. “They’re not here, but they’re going to be here in our opinion at some point and we’ve got…

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The pilot will help rideshare drivers switch to EVs. News 

Ford is offering flexible leasing deals for the Mustang Mach-E to Uber drivers in three cities

Uber drivers don’t have easy access to Tesla when they want to switch to electric cars. Ford and Uber are launching an expanded pilot program offering flexible Mustang Mach-E leases to drivers in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Operators choose between one and four month leases and receive the Mach-E within two weeks. They then use the Ford Drive app to manage payments and maintenance. At the same time, Ford is buying electric crossovers from dealers and putting them into service. Lease costs $199 per week including 500…

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The complex "will be a high-volume manufacturing hub for North American EV production News 

Ford announces that Canada will invest $1.3 billion in the production of electric cars

Ford on Tuesday said it will invest C$1.8 billion ($1.3 billion) to renovate an assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario, Canada to make electric vehicles and batteries for the North American market. The complex “will be a high-volume manufacturing hub for North American electric vehicle production, transforming the existing buildings into a state-of-the-art facility that leverages Oakville’s experienced workforce,” the company said in a statement. The transformation, which is expected to lead to thousands of new employees, is scheduled to begin in mid-2024 and start producing electric cars in early 2025.…

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