Ford's Highly Touted BEV Czar Leaves, His Exit Won't Quickly Change Things

Doron Levin1.63K FollowersFollow5ShareSavePlay(8min)CommentsFollow us on Google for the latest stock newsFollow Seeking Alpha on Google for the latest stock newsSummaryFord Motor remains a Hold as electrification and software transitions pose significant execution and financial risks.F's EV ventures, including the Mustang Mach-e and F-150 Lightning, have underperformed, leading to steep losses and writedowns.Despite record revenue, EV-related charges drove a swing from $5.9B net profit in 2024 to an $8.2B net loss for 2025.Dividend yield stands at 4.75%, but payout safety is weak and vulnerable to ongoing financial challenges. Ford F-150 Lightning EV at a charging station. Ford offered the F150 Lightning with up to 320 mile full charge driving range. The model was officially discontinued in 2025. jetcityimage/iStock Editorial via Getty Images The departure of Doug Field, who was recruited to supervise Ford Motor Company’s (F) BEV development, comes amidst the automaker’s struggles to prove it can match its top rivals, including Tesla (TSLA) and a slew of ChineseThis article was written byDoron Levin1.63K FollowersFollowI am a journalist based in Detroit, having spent almost my entire career writing about business and economic subjects for The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Detroit Free Press and Bloomberg. I'm the author of two books and am an acknowledged expert on the world automotive industry.Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of TSLA either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.