Ford Motor has formed a team to speed up worldwide development of electric vehicles, whose objective will be to “think big” and “make quicker decisions,” an executive of the company stated on Monday.
One objective of Ford’s “Team Edison” is to determine and develop electric-vehicle partnerships with other companies, consisting of suppliers, in some markets, according to Sherif Marakby, vice president of autonomous automobiles and electrification.
Worldwide demand for electric automobiles has “a significant potential to increase” as federal governments implement EV mandates and quotas, Marakby stated in an interview.
He stated the group will be based in the Detroit location and deal with local Ford vehicle electrification groups in China and Europe.
China, India, France and the UK all have announced plans to phase out lorries powered by combustion engines and nonrenewable fuel sources between 2030 and 2040.
Marakby stated Group Edison “will look holistically at the electric vehicle market.”
“The idea is to think big, move fast and make quicker choices” on EV production as demand increases and technology advances, he said.
Ford has not changed its previously announced plan to invest $4.5 billion over five years on electrified automobiles, including plug-in hybrids, Marakby stated.
He refused to say the number of brand-new electric vehicles Ford expects to include in the future.
The new group will report to Ted Cannis, who is named global director of electrification.
