Ford Motor Co. exhibits a new Ford F-150 2021 pickup truck at the Rouge Complex in Dearborn, Michigan, on September 17, 2020.
Rebecca Cook | Reuters
DETROIT: Ford Motor has hired Doug Field, a former executive at Tesla and Apple, to lead its emerging technology efforts, a key focus for the automaker under its new Ford + investment plan.
Field, who led the development of Tesla’s Model 3, recently served as vice president of special projects at Apple, which reportedly included the tech giant’s Titan car project.
The rental is an important novelty for Ford, although it is a great success for Apple and its secret car project, which the company has not yet confirmed exists.
“I think that every time you lose a well-respected and experienced executive who, as you can best tell, was really directing automotive efforts at Apple, it’s a blow to any company,” said Bernstein, Toni Sacconaghi, who covers the iPhone manufacturer. he told CNBC’s “Closing Bell.”
Ford said Tuesday that Field will take on the new position of head of advanced technology and embedded systems officer. He will lead Ford’s vehicle controls, business connectivity, features, integration and validation, architecture and platform, driver assistance technology, and digital engineering tools.
“His talent and commitment to innovation that improves customer lives will be invaluable as we build our Ford + plan to deliver amazing products, always customer relationships and ever-improving user experiences,” he said. Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, in a statement. “We’re thrilled that Doug has chosen to join Ford and help write the next amazing chapter of this great company.”
Field, who will report to Farley, began his professional career at Ford in 1987, according to his LinkedIn profile. He then held positions at Johnson & Johnson, Deka Research & Development and Segway before starting at Apple in 2008. After more than five years with the tech giant, he moved to Tesla before returning to Apple in 2018.
– CNBC Kevin Stankiewicz has contributed to this report