In a statement released on April 15, 2026, Ford Motor Co. announced a significant restructuring of its operations centered around a newly formed business unit it has dubbed Product Creation and Industrialization. The goal of the internal division is to further accelerate vehicle development and improve efficiency as the company shifts toward electric-powered and software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
It will combine product development, design, engineering, purchasing, and manufacturing into a single organization responsible for the full lifecycle of vehicle creation. The move is intended to streamline decision-making, reduce costs, and shorten development timelines.
New Role for Galhotra
Ford’s chief operating officer Kumar Galhotra will lead the organization, with several senior leaders reporting into the new structure. Among them is Alan Clarke, who will play a key role in overseeing advanced vehicle engineering and development, including the rollout of Ford’s Universal Electric Vehicle Platform (UEV).
COO Kumar Galhotra has held many positions within Ford, including president of Ford Blue, head of Lincoln brand, chief marketing officer, and vice president of engineering.
The reorganization aligns with Ford’s broader Ford+ strategy, which focuses on electrification, connected technologies, and software integration. By bringing software, hardware, and industrial operations closer together, the company aims to scale software-defined vehicles more effectively across its lineup.
Tesla, Apple Veteran Doug Field Departs
The changes are also marking the impending departure of Doug Field, Ford’s former chief EV, digital and design officer, and reflect a shift toward a more unified operating model after several years of internal restructuring. Field joined Ford in 2022, after stints at Tesla and Apple, to lead the company’s shift to SDVs.
Doug Field’s resume includes stints at Segway, Apple, and Tesla, where he helped launch the Model 3.
“I believe Ford now has a winning technology strategy and plan. The first breakthrough product off the Universal EV platform—a mid-size pickup—is on its way to production. We have clearly defined hardware, software, and electrification plans across our full product line. The initial quality of our core technologies is now near the top of the industry. Most importantly, we have incredibly talented teams across these disciplines, ready to carry Ford into the future. I am completely confident in them and so excited to see their work in the coming years,” Field said in the statement.
Alan Clarke, Ford’s new vice president of advanced development products and leader of the UEV platform.
His mention of incredible talent no doubt includes Clarke, who Field hand-picked to join Ford’s UEV team in Long Beach. We interviewed Clarke on our InEVitable podcast, just before he was promoted to his position of vice president of advanced development projects.
Ford said the new organization will support a significant upcoming product cadence, with plans to refresh 80 percent of its North American portfolio and 70 percent of its global portfolio by 2029. The company is preparing to launch new electric and hybrid vehicles alongside updated versions of core models, starting with a new small electric pickup truck, the first vehicle to be built off of the UEV platform and utilizing in-house-built technologies including what it’s billing as the world’s cheapest electric motors.
Overall, the restructuring is designed to better connect product development with manufacturing execution, positioning Ford to respond more quickly to market demands and compete in an industry increasingly defined by electrification, software capabilities, and faster development cycles.
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