In his new role, Doug Field will report to Farley, chief software and connectivity strategy, and will work in partnership with Ford’s chief product platform and operations officer, Hau Thai-Tang, Ford said.
see photosDoug Field has worked with Ford in the past, but he most recently served as VP Special Projects at Apple
Apple Inc.’s head of car projects, Doug Field, is going to work for Ford Motor Co. to lead the automaker’s advanced technology and embedded systems efforts, a recruitment coup for Ford’s chief executive Jim Farley. Field most recently served as Vice President of Special Projects at Apple and previously was Senior Vice President, Engineering at Tesla. Earlier in his career, Field worked at Ford. In his new role, Field will lead software and connectivity strategy, and report to Farley, working in partnership with How Thai-Tang, Ford’s chief product platform and operations officer, Ford said.
Ford said Tuesday that Thai-Tang oversees the development and design of cars and trucks, as well as supply chain and other functions. Field rentals and the management structure designed to accommodate them underscore the growing importance of software and digital connectivity in the auto industry. “This is a watershed moment for our company,” Farley told reporters on a call.
Apple was aiming to launch an electric car with advanced battery technology by 2024, but hasn’t revealed specific plans
Since taking over as Ford’s CEO last October, Farley has emphasized the importance of developing strong digital services and connections to generate continued revenue from consumer and commercial customers. “The entire customer experience of the future goes through embedded systems,” Farley said. He compared the auto industry to the mobile phone industry when the first iPhone was introduced, and customers saw that a phone could do much more than make voice calls.
Field’s move to Ford was first reported by Bloomberg. It was unclear what Field’s decision to leave Apple meant for the iPhone maker’s efforts to develop vehicles for its own brand. Industry sources told Reuters last year that Apple was aiming to launch an electric car with advanced battery technology by 2024. Since then, Apple has not disclosed specific plans. Meanwhile, start-ups and established automakers chasing Tesla Inc in China, the United States and Europe have only grown with billions of dollars in investments.
Doug Field will now face the challenge of a creative blend of Silicon Valley software culture and the auto industry’s manufacturing mindset.
Field said on Tuesday that he would not talk about his work at Apple. “We are grateful for the contribution Doug has made to Apple, and we wish him the very best in this next chapter,” Apple said in a statement. Field will now take on the challenge of creatively blending the Silicon Valley software culture and the manufacturing mindset of the auto industry, which has disappointed many other executives at established automakers and tech industry startups, including Tesla.
Field said he plans to have homes in Silicon Valley and Michigan, the technology sector better suited for talent and access to technology. In developing a new digital platform for Ford’s vehicles of the future, Field said he is ready to partner with technology industry partners, but that “we have to control the experience we deliver to our customers and we must control our own destiny.” have to keep.”
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