Today, we'll dive into Ford's recent strategic move: merging its next-gen architecture with its current platform. Doug Field, hired from Apple to enhance Ford's software capabilities, faces significant challenges as the company grapples with stagnant EV sales and costly project delays.

Field admits, “Stopping any engineering project for a leader like me is always hard,” as the company shifts from the expensive FNV4 architecture, which aimed to modernize their software experience, to a more adaptable FNV3.X architecture. This approach enables broader software development across Ford's lineup, from electric models to traditional internal combustion vehicles.

Despite the appeal of a zonal architecture, which reduces costs with fewer electronic control units, Ford will continue with a domain-based system. Field explains, “By taking a more incremental approach, we’ve vastly expanded the number of vehicles in our portfolio” to benefit from new software updates like BlueCruise, allowing the automaker to cater to a diverse customer base.

As Ford navigates the complexities of integrating legacy systems and modern technology, Field emphasizes, “What difference does it make to the customer which type of architecture they get?” Ultimately, it’s about delivering an outstanding software experience, which he believes should be “soft” and user-friendly, putting customer satisfaction above all.
Link to Article