auto dealer in black and red logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Ford to Focus on Trucks, EVs, Connectivity

Ford CEO Jim Hackett said on Tuesday the automaker plans to reduce engineering costs by 50% through 2022. Ford will also shift investment into trucks and electrified vehicles, and reduce costs and investment in sedans and internal combustion engines.

by Paul Clinton
October 4, 2017
Ford to Focus on Trucks, EVs, Connectivity

Photo of CEO Jim Hackett courtesy of Ford.

2 min to read


NEW YORK — Ford Motor Co.'s new leader wants to shift investment into trucks and electrified vehicles and reduce costs and investment in sedans and internal combustion engines, CEO Jim Hackett said Tuesday.

The company is also pursuing global partnerships in manufacturing and mobility to share the expense of developing new technology, including self-driving cars and battery-electric vehicles for China.

Ford plans to reduce costs by 50% through 2022 by eliminating $14 billion in costs, including $10 billion in material cost reductions and $4 billion in engineering costs, by using more common parts, reducing order complexity, and building fewer prototypes, according to the company.

Hackett, who became president and CEO on May 22, laid out his plan for investors in New York City on Oct. 3. Hackett said he has set a long-term goal of an 8% automotive operating margin.

Ford will shift $7 billion in capital from cars to SUVs and trucks, including the Ranger and EcoSport in North America and the Bronco globally. Ford will build the next-generation Focus for North America in China to reduce costs. Ford is also planning to reduce internal combustion engine expenditures by one-third, and shift those savings into electrification in addition to the $4.5 billion already allocated.

Vehicle connectivity has become a key plank in the plan, as Ford plans to install 4G LTE modems by 2019. By 2020, 90% of Ford's global vehicles will be connected.

Ford will also continue to develop partnerships. Ford is exploring an alliance with Mahindra Group in India and may partner with Zoyte to develop low-cost battery-electric vehicles for China. The company has also partnered with Lyft and Domino's Pizza to research the customer experience of delivery services.

Ford has also set up an internal team known as "Team Edison" as it begins rolling out 13 electrified vehicles in the next five years.

Originally posted on F&I and Showroom

More Dealer Ops

Auto Dealer Today, Dealer Debrief, 07/15/2026, with Lauren Lawrence
Dealer Opsby Lauren LawrenceJuly 15, 2026

Dealer Debrief: Defection Data & EV Updates

In this week's debrief, host Lauren Lawrence discusses how to use defection data to your advantage and the latest on EV sales and charging infrastructure.

Read More →
Two professionals shake hands while exchanging a car key fob beside a vehicle, symbolizing a vehicle sale, lease agreement, or dealership transaction.
SponsoredJuly 8, 2026

How Defection Data is Bridging the Dealership Conversion Gap

Lead volume is flat, cross-shopping is up and brand loyalty is in retreat. As confident sales teams keep losing buyers they thought they had, daily industry sales data is showing dealers exactly where their funnel is breaking and how to fix it without buying a single new lead.

Read More →
Auto Dealer Today, Dealer Debrief, 07/02/2026 with Lauren Lawrence
Dealer Opsby Lauren LawrenceJuly 2, 2026

Dealer Debrief: Where are you losing customers?

In this week's debrief, host Lauren Lawrence discusses the hidden leaks in dealerships where you might be losing customers without even realizing it.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Auto Dealer Today, Dealer Debrief, 06/25/2026, with Lauren Lawrence
Dealer Opsby Lauren LawrenceJune 26, 2026

Dealer Debrief: Improving Your Inventory Management

In this week's debrief, host Lauren Lawrence covers a new survey that shows what service technicians really want and two launches that could help improve your inventory and vehicle life cycle management.

Read More →
group of people standing in a circle holding puzzle pieces together
Dealer OpsJune 1, 2026

Ladies and Gentlemen, This Is a Dealership: Why the Fundamentals Still Decide Who Wins

A teaching moment by a legendary football coach happens to apply perfectly in the auto retail space. Learn what it is and how to use it to your store’s advantage.

Read More →
Cover image for a BOK Financial report titled “Timing the market: How avoiding volatility entirely can hurt long-term reinsurance program performance.” The image shows several road construction barricades with flashing amber warning lights lined up in a nighttime work zone. Beneath the image, red text explains that avoiding volatility can mean falling behind inflation and missing market rebounds that drive long-term surplus growth. The BOK Financial logo appears at the bottom right.
SponsoredMay 8, 2026

What Market Timing Mistakes Mean for Your Reinsurance Program

When volatility hits, dealer-owned reinsurance programs face a familiar temptation: pull back and wait for calmer waters. New data from BOK Financial shows why that instinct can quietly cost you years of surplus growth.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
two cars on a billboard, No Hidden Fees
ComplianceMay 1, 2026

Dealer Ads and the FTC

The agency has made it clear in recent enforcement actions and warnings, in auto retail and other industries, that advertised prices must include all nonoptional costs to the consumer.

Read More →
Closeup of white car's headlight, front end
Dealer Opsby Hannah MitchellApril 17, 2026

Used Autos Supply Dwindles

The March shopping surge, despite high prices, cut into inventory by the most since the thick of the pandemic, Cox Automotive analysts calculated.

Read More →
hands making protective frame over red car, Risk Reality Check, Be Proactive, Auto Dealer Today logo
Dealer OpsApril 1, 2026

Managing Risk Effectively Through Changing Times

The variables influencing risk pricing have changed significantly over the past five years. Being proactive and responsive to emerging trends is not optional but essential.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Car key, stacks of coins, and a paper car cutout with AutoPayPlus logo, representing auto financing, loan terms, and vehicle affordability trends.
Dealer Opsby StaffMarch 31, 2026

Survey Reveals What Won't Fix What's Breaking Car Sales

AutoPayPlus says extra-long auto loans are trapping consumers and threatening the dealer trade-in cycle, and that the industry is leveraging the wrong tools to combat high MSRPs.

Read More →