Well This Can’t Be Good. FORD FIRES 350 in Software Group

[COrocket]

As unfortunate as it is, it wouldn't surprise me if the layoffs are performance related. We are 4+ years into SYNC 4/4A development and there are still widespread struggles to get OTA software to push reliably, and it really shouldn't take a 350+ person team of software developers multiple years to figure out how to display a 24 hour clock correctly or get CarPlay to connect consistently.

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[Rip]

I think EV's are about to be put on the back burner and then all these fools are going to be crying when the Chinese dominate the US EV market. I wont buy one but Im sure a lot of other people are going to run at the chance to buy one.

Agree. They are handing the world over to China. I had an Uber ride on a recent trip to London in a BYD. If they start selling here, they probably will do very well. It was a pretty impressive ride. The driver wouldn't tell me what the company paid, but he said it cost less than than a Model 3.

 

[Runaway Tractor]

Have you seen how crappy Ford's software is?? Good. Fire them. It actually blows my mind that they had 350+ software engineers to begin with.

 

[Jim Lewis]

For a little perspective, Microsoft is now the world's richest company by market capitalization. Over $70 billion a quarter in revenue for 2025, about $26 billion in profit for the first quarter. Over 200,000 employees, but it just laid off over 3% of its workforce (~6,000 people) to devote more capital to AI. Ford might not be doing anywhere near as well, but didn't it just kill a skunkworks project or two? Maybe the layoffs are coming from a reassessment of priorities. According to ChatGPT, Ford has over 13,000 software developers, engineers, designers, and technical experts. So, 350 folks is a small percentage of Ford's white-collar technical workforce.

 

[ECal]

For a little perspective, Microsoft is now the world's richest company by market capitalization. Over $70 billion a quarter in revenue for 2025, about $26 billion in profit for the first quarter. Over 200,000 employees, but it just laid off over 3% of its workforce (~6,000 people) to devote more capital to AI. Ford might not be doing anywhere near as well, but didn't it just kill a skunkworks project or two? Maybe the layoffs are coming from a reassessment of priorities. According to ChatGPT, Ford has over 13,000 software developers, engineers, designers, and technical experts. So, 350 folks is a small percentage of Ford's white-collar technical workforce.

Just had to laugh as I’ve never heard anyone say “according to ChatGPT” like it’s the primary source.

 

[Jim Lewis]

Just had to laugh as I’ve never heard anyone say “according to ChatGPT” like it’s the primary source

Satya Nadella recently said at a Meta event that AI now does 30% of the coding at Microsoft, if that helps give you an idea of where things are going.

 

[ECal]

Satya Nadella recently said at a Meta event that AI now does 30% of the coding at Microsoft, if that helps give you an idea of where things are going.

oh, I use it daily too. Just never seen anyone cite ChatGPT. Everyone is using it? They’re just not talking about it.

 

[pullinggs]

I hope Ford will Lease Tesla software

I have no first-hand knowledge of the Ford platform(s), but I do know something about what it takes to port software. At a guess, Ford would have to completely revamp their hardware before they could plug in someone else's code. It sound easy from the outside, but this is probably devilishly difficult and expensive when one looks at the internal details.

 

[bthanos]

Perhaps support for CarPlay Ultra and upcoming Android equivalent means less infotainment staff needed.

 

[Maxx]

Here is a scary thought. What if the software guys Ford just fired are now working to develop Lattice (Anduril autonomous software) used on battlefield. You thought your OTA crapshoot was bad….

 

[Bigisland Guy]

I have no first-hand knowledge of the Ford platform(s), but I do know something about what it takes to port software. At a guess, Ford would have to completely revamp their hardware before they could plug in someone else's code. It sound easy from the outside, but this is probably devilishly difficult and expensive when one looks at the internal details.
[/QUOTE]

Very true, as a point of reference Ford's CEO Jim Farley said in an interview that one of the problems Ford has with its suppliers (he cited Bosch as an example) they utilize their own software platforms. This cause lots of problems with integration. At this point they might as well think about utilizeing HW4 hardware platforms and then they and Tesla can require suppliers to meet their requirements. This would could be similiar to how major US Banks dictate software requirements to its vendors. I know its a hope, but its a possible answer to all the future Ford vehicles. In short the big problem is that Detroit's thinking is traditional and not flexible enough.

 

[ALyn]

Looks like FORD is reducing its staff in the Software/Connectivity group.

Might be good news if they were replacing 350 but apparently it’s a straight out reduction in force.

https://stocks.apple.com/ALq1ydx4gRxeTNY_nzNcjlA

Ford's software group is like most companies involved with advance tech, they are integrating AI to do basic software development and testing. This is happening across many industries. I do agree the Chinese are well on their way to dominating the market. They are already delivering more innovative and price competitive products.

 

[SmoothJ]

Perhaps support for CarPlay Ultra and upcoming Android equivalent means less infotainment staff needed.

I doubt we will get CarPlay Ultra or Google on our Sync system in the future. I doubt we have the processing power, storage, or memory needed.

 

[rockhead]

oh, I use it daily too. Just never seen anyone cite ChatGPT. Everyone is using it? They’re just not talking about it.

ChatGPT ... spin me up a precondition button please ...
how effing hard can it be ?

 

[Chillguy]

I personally do not see a problem with it. I hire web developers overseas costing me less than 30% what I would have to pay here on the top of their sick days, payroll taxes, other benefits and general attitude their **** don't stink.
Every single large company is so bloated with waste and abuse that even if I cut 25% of their workforce if I were to run the company it would be just as efficient and I am sure of it.

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