Doug Field Revolutionized Ford's Electric Vehicle Division in Four Years. Now He’s Departing: TDS

      Doug Field, Ford's Chief EV, Digital and Design Officer, is departing from the company.

      Ford

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      The Downshift provides you with the top automotive industry news headlines from around the world every morning in concise summaries so you can stay informed and move on with your day. Each item includes a link for further details. Get your favorite caffeinated drink and let’s dive in.

      ⚡ Doug Field, who spearheaded Ford’s EV initiatives after holding positions at Tesla and Apple, has announced his decision to leave the automaker, as revealed by the company on Wednesday afternoon. “I believe Ford now has a robust technology strategy and plan,” Field stated. “The first groundbreaking product from the Universal EV platform—a mid-size pickup—is heading to production. We have laid out clear hardware, software, and electrification strategies across our entire product lineup.” A new division named Product Creation and Industrialization, which comprises the group previously overseen by Field, will now be led by COO Kumar Galhotra, while Alan Clarke will lead the Advanced Development Projects team that developed the Universal platform.

      🫴 The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency has announced that it will start accepting applications on April 20 for refunds related to President Trump’s tariffs, which were deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in February. Approximately 3,000 businesses, many of them automotive manufacturers, have filed lawsuits seeking compensation, according to Automotive News.

      ⏬ New EV registrations in the U.S. decreased by 37 percent in February compared to the same month last year, as reported by Auto News.

      🚀 Bloomberg, citing data from S&P Global Mobility, reported that SpaceX accounted for 18% of all Tesla Cybertrucks sold in the fourth quarter.

      🤝 Stellantis and Microsoft have entered into a five-year agreement “to co-develop artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and engineering capabilities,” according to Reuters.

      🏭 Stellantis’ assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, remains inactive after a plan to produce Chinese EVs from Leapmotor at the facility was blocked by officials and organized labor, as per Auto News.

      📋 The FIA and ACO have stated they will no longer publish balance-of-performance data for World Endurance Championship racing teams to reduce public “misunderstanding,” as reported by Motorsport.com. BOP, or balance of performance, is the regulated adjustment of different cars' relative performance to encourage closer competition.

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