Ford’s Car of the Future, Hatched in a Skunk Works Near Los Angeles
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- In 2021, Doug Field left Apple after its driverless electric car project was abandoned and rejoined Ford Motor to lead a transformative electric vehicle initiative aimed at competing with popular Chinese automakers.
- Field established a secretive "skunk works" lab near Los Angeles with a Silicon Valley satellite office, recruiting top talent from Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, and various start-ups specializing in batteries, electronics, and software.
- The project emphasized creative freedom and operated independently from Ford’s traditional corporate structure, with strict access controls to protect the team from interference.
- Field aimed to recreate the innovative spirit of Tesla within Ford, providing an environment where the team could "start over" and rapidly develop competitive electric vehicles.
