Ford has already reshaped development, set to refresh 70% of its portfolio and UEV by 2029

Ford is undergoing a significant internal restructuring as it prepares for one of the most extensive lineup overhauls in recent years. Under the brand’s plan, roughly 70% of its global portfolio will be refreshed by 2029. To avoid fragmented efforts across departments and speed up the rollout of new models, the company has introduced a new end-to-end structure that brings design, EV strategy, digital technologies and software, as well as Ford’s global manufacturing system under one integrated framework.

According to company representatives, the setup is designed to support a highly intensive wave of launches covering not only vehicles but also software and services. The new division has been named Product Creation and Industrialization and will be led by Kumar Galhotra.

Ford emphasizes that the initiative is not limited to global markets. In North America, the company expects to refresh about 80% of its portfolio by 2029 based on sales volume. This includes the next-generation F-150, the F-Series Super Duty lineup, and a new midsize pickup built on Ford’s Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform.

The UEV architecture, according to reports, was developed by a so-called “skunkworks” team. It relies on large single-piece unicastings to reduce vehicle weight while simplifying overall construction. The platform is also engineered for a highly efficient powertrain and a fully zonal electrical architecture, supported by Ford’s in-house software and advanced driver-assistance systems.

Electrification remains a key pillar of the strategy. Nearly 90% of Ford’s global nameplates are expected to offer electrified powertrains by 2030, including hybrids, extended-range electric vehicles, and fully electric models. Ford also notes that technologies developed for UEV will carry over to hybrid vehicles, as the company works on new high-efficiency electric motors.

CEO Jim Farley described the changes as the result of years of work building a “modern Ford” capable of scaling software-defined vehicles with flexible powertrain options, stronger digital capabilities, and an ownership experience that improves over time. At the same time, the restructuring comes with a notable leadership change: Ford confirmed that Doug Field, who joined five years ago to help steer the company’s push into electrified, connected, and software-defined vehicles, will leave within the next month.

He played a key role in shaping the Product Creation and Industrialization organization, which is tasked with simplifying development across hardware, software, and manufacturing. His departure comes as Ford aims to use its new structure to drive its lineup refresh and reach an adjusted EBIT margin of 8% by 2029.