Ford Kills Development of FNV4 (fully-networked vehicle

[F150ROD]

DETROIT, April 30 (Reuters) - Ford Motor (F.N), opens new tab has killed a program to develop next-generation electrical architecture - the brain of modern cars - that its executives have called pivotal to competing with electric-vehicle pioneers such as Tesla, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Ford had invested heavily in the system, known internally as FNV4 (for fully-networked vehicle), to streamline vehicle-software functions. The goal was to cut costs, improve quality and add profitable features in both electric and gasoline-powered vehicles.

The team, based in California, is tasked with developing advanced software and affordable electric vehicles


https://www.reuters.com/business/au...velop-tesla-like-electronic-brain-2025-04-30/

Welp….

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[Kev12345]

Kodak and Nokia laughed at Apple. I wonder if Ford is laughing at China right now.

 

[MountainAlive]

Kodak and Nokia laughed at Apple. I wonder if Ford is laughing at China right now.

Ford CEO has mentioned the China lead quite a bit. He knows, but churning out vehicles at China prices is near impossible.

 

[Maineiac12]

It’s a longer story than what is quoted.

The project was abandoned because of ballooning costs and delays, the sources said.

A Ford spokesperson said the company will absorb what it learned from developing FNV4 into its current software system, and it remains focused on delivering an advanced electrical architecture with its so-called skunkworks team.

The team, based in California, is tasked with developing advanced software and affordable electric vehicles.

"We are committed to delivering fully connected vehicle experiences across our entire lineup, regardless of powertrain, while many others in the industry are bringing the most advanced tech only to electric vehicles," the spokesperson said.”

So they’re going to do something different in the future, but they aren’t saying what. And did they have 2 teams working on this? One in Michigan plus the skunkworks? Odd.

 

[F150ROD]

It’s a longer story than what is quoted.

The project was abandoned because of ballooning costs and delays, the sources said.

A Ford spokesperson said the company will absorb what it learned from developing FNV4 into its current software system, and it remains focused on delivering an advanced electrical architecture with its so-called skunkworks team.

The team, based in California, is tasked with developing advanced software and affordable electric vehicles.

"We are committed to delivering fully connected vehicle experiences across our entire lineup, regardless of powertrain, while many others in the industry are bringing the most advanced tech only to electric vehicles," the spokesperson said.”

So they’re going to do something different in the future, but they aren’t saying what. And did they have 2 teams working on this? One in Michigan plus the skunkworks? Odd.

I think the California team was first and then skunkworks came along. To me it's not looking good for T3 coming out anytime soon. Whatever they have now is suitable for the past, but not going forward IMO.

 

[trev5150]

A Ford spokesperson said the company will absorb what it learned from developing FNV4 into its current software system, and it remains focused on delivering an advanced electrical architecture with its so-called skunkworks team.

This is almost assuredly untrue.

 

[GDN]

This is some crazy news - just for the reasons they note they were doing it. The goal was to cut costs, improve quality and add profitable features in both electric and gasoline-powered vehicles.

We know the simplicity and cost advantages this gives Tesla. Take that times the number of autos that Ford makes every year and the savings and simplicity would have to be astronomical.

Even with a lead from Tesla and the Chinese I'm sure, either the challenges of getting some brass to accept the upfront costs or too much pressure from all of the suppliers they will put out of business by moving to simple and advanced must have been too much pressure for Farley.

We've seen the slide for Ford, you can only continue to do it like your grandparents did for so long before you wake up one day and realize you aren't doing it any more. You've got to invest.

 

[Maxx]

The instability in the market and potential for the drop in demand due to rising cost would freak out any CEO when it comes to planning for future. A lot of companies are going into survival mode and cutting unnecessary cost until the dust settles.

 

[RocketGhost]

I think the California team was first and then skunkworks came along. To me it's not looking good for T3 coming out anytime soon. Whatever they have now is suitable for the past, but not going forward IMO.

Last I heard T3 was coming out in 2027? Development of a car two years away would be near completion already. They wouldn't have planned on implementing FNV4 on the T3 when the program had thus far only produced a single prototype. My gut is that T3 wasn't planned on having a radically different architecture simply because they are too far away from that. I'm guessing that the physical T3 truck is its own design not based on a current product but the guts of how it functions won't be a dramatic departure from the Lightning except maybe differences in battery technology. These are just my musings not based on any fact or rumor.

 

[sotek2345]

Last I heard T3 was coming out in 2027? Development of a car two years away would be near completion already. They wouldn't have planned on implementing FNV4 on the T3 when the program had thus far only produced a single prototype. My gut is that T3 wasn't planned on having a radically different architecture simply because they are too far away from that. I'm guessing that the physical T3 truck is its own design not based on a current product but the guts of how it functions won't be a dramatic departure from the Lightning except maybe differences in battery technology. These are just my musings not based on any fact or rumor.

Given we haven't heard any news or leaks, I really wouldn't count on T3 coming out in 2027, if it comes out at all.

 

[RocketGhost]

Given we haven't heard any news or leaks, I really wouldn't count on T3 coming out in 2027, if it comes out at all.

I live 30 minutes from the new Blue Oval City where T3 is planned to be produced. They are still continuing construction (although I believe scaled back) and hiring. Of course they could halt at any time, but I think they'll end up producing an EV there since it's a new purpose built plant to manufacture EVs.

 

[Danface]

I believe that there needs to be one standard for all vehicles. It wasn't left up to each state or manufacture to decide on what electrical standard to use so why are we accepting a mish mash of differing methodologies for something as important as vehicles? Leaving it to the "market" to sort out is, IMHO, stupid, it just wastes time and money and doesn't benefit the consumer.

 

[GDN]

I believe that there needs to be one standard for all vehicles. It wasn't left up to each state or manufacture to decide on what electrical standard to use so why are we accepting a mish mash of differing methodologies for something as important as vehicles? Leaving it to the "market" to sort out is, IMHO, stupid, it just wastes time and money and doesn't benefit the consumer.

The 12v became a standard and its used widely. However if everyone did it exactly the same there would be some missing competition. The market will sort this out. New buyers paying the kind of price we do will demand newer and better technologies and those that can innovate and understand that it takes some investment will win.

I get shot down a lot around here for this and I'm ok with that, but Ford could be light years ahead if they just licensed from Tesla. I'm not sure Tesla wants to let anyone else have it, but Ford could still customize everything. They could keep a forward looking dash. Otherwise it's ready to go out of the box. I have no idea what Rivian and Lucid do, but I'm sure their technologies are similar to Tesla. The disaster that Ford has on its hand trying to update SW and deliver a new option or two once in a while has to be costing them dearly.

 

[Danface]

The 12v became a standard and its used widely. However if everyone did it exactly the same there would be some missing competition. The market will sort this out. New buyers paying the kind of price we do will demand newer and better technologies and those that can innovate and understand that it takes some investment will win.

I get shot down a lot around here for this and I'm ok with that, but Ford could be light years ahead if they just licensed from Tesla. I'm not sure Tesla wants to let anyone else have it, but Ford could still customize everything. They could keep a forward looking dash. Otherwise it's ready to go out of the box. I have no idea what Rivian and Lucid do, but I'm sure their technologies are similar to Tesla. The disaster that Ford has on its hand trying to update SW and deliver a new option or two once in a while has to be costing them dearly.

My thought is vehicles should communicate which would make self driving easier and safer and the underpinning of EV charging is "sort of common" (NACS vs CCS) but what about CCS2 etc?

I see the need for competition but I also think there are areas that can be homogenized" for the benefit of the consumer and the manufacturer.

 

[VAF84]

The 12v became a standard and its used widely. However if everyone did it exactly the same there would be some missing competition. The market will sort this out. New buyers paying the kind of price we do will demand newer and better technologies and those that can innovate and understand that it takes some investment will win.

I get shot down a lot around here for this and I'm ok with that, but Ford could be light years ahead if they just licensed from Tesla. I'm not sure Tesla wants to let anyone else have it, but Ford could still customize everything. They could keep a forward looking dash. Otherwise it's ready to go out of the box. I have no idea what Rivian and Lucid do, but I'm sure their technologies are similar to Tesla. The disaster that Ford has on its hand trying to update SW and deliver a new option or two once in a while has to be costing them dearly.

I've always wondered the same regarding licensing from Tesla. There's so much ingrained bloat, bureaucracy, and associated costs with legacy Ford/GM/Stellantis that I don't see how these companies can match or leapfrog Tesla/Rivian or the Chinese in developing the modern vehicle experience without going the licensing route.

To give Ford credit where it's due, they did manage to get a better software setup than GM or Stellanits. I'm in a Sierra EV now, and at least Ford was offering things like PAAK and continual software improvements. I can tell they tried to get some of that Teslaness into their vehicles. Where GM is stuck at providing an ICE vehicle with a battery.

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