Ford Skunkworks developing an EV Pickup....?

[Great Gatsby]

At least reboot is all it took? Curious how often Ford has provided OTAs? Maybe perception of stability is tied to lack changes in software? IMO pace of software development (and frequency of updates) is what sets the "start ups" apart from legacy auto. Continuous development vs annual/bi-annual (if at all).

OTA updates are actually quite rare on Fords, and are usually just bug fixes. The infotainment is relatively responsive and for the most part works. But yeah, you're pretty spot on about the start ups versus legacy comparison. Having had a Kia EV and dealt with a BMW one as well, the software updates are rare and also the apps leave a lot to be desired.

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[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I had also completely forgotten that they had planned on having Rivian build their SUV at one point, before their own project had gotten canned. Ford thinks they can do it better, but Rivian will probably be on gen3 of R1 before they have a competing product at scale.

Sounds like they just have knee jerk reactions to market trends.

"People want big SUVs! People want electric! Oh, electric cars aren't selling anymore...so hybrid? People really do want hybrid, and that is the future. Electric SUVs are big and dumb anyway! And I heard they want affordable EVs now too? We should do that! We'll make one...that's a truck. Because people want trucks that are also electric because math. Wait, do people still want trucks? What are we doing again?"

An electric Ford Explorer at a reasonable price point would have been an interesting prospect, specially seeing how the lightning turned out. Seeing Kia roll out the EV9 before Ford could even get a concept together for a 3 row SUV when they already experienced moderate success with the Mach-E is just absurd. No roadmap. No innovation. Just chasing the next shiny thing and then wondering why they can't keep up with the market.

Yup. They bought shares of Rivian as part of a partnership to [reportedly] work on a SUV for Lincoln. But then changed their mind and sold their stake, which sent share price tumbling further. In the end, Rivian is probably better off. VW Group is larger by global volume (#2 vs #8).

My impression of Ford's stance on EVs is similar to that of Toyota (just not as bad)... one foot in, one foot out. And they make the same mistake other legacy brands make on EVs: Not designing them from the ground-up to take full advantage of EV architecture. But designing them as if they feel compelled to convince consumers (and Ford itself) to switch, with traditional ICE platforms and ways as the starting point for design/engineering. IMO, just build the best clean slate EV they could, then its merits will be compelling.

 

[Zoidz]

At least reboot is all it took? Curious how often Ford has provided OTAs? Maybe perception of stability is tied to lack changes in software? IMO pace of software development (and frequency of updates) is what sets the "start ups" apart from legacy auto. Continuous development vs annual/bi-annual (if at all).

A co-worker has a Mach E for almost 4 years. He's constantly complaining about the lack of updates. He makes it sound like he might get 1 update a year, or less.

 

[Dark-Fx]

A co-worker has a Mach E for almost 4 years. He's constantly complaining about the lack of updates. He makes it sound like he might get 1 update a year, or less.

I can't speak for Ford at all here, but my Sierra EV has gotten one OTA update since I bought it almost a year ago. There are updates for the hardware and certain systems, but GM hasn't been sending them to the vehicles at all, so my vehicle isn't actually up to date.

They still seem to want to depend on the dealers to do the updates under warranty. Of course I'm not sure who to blame here. GM's engineers or the entire dealer system they have to please. They still seem stuck on their old ways of never updating anything unless it's legally required or customer complaint driven about their specific vehicle. Quite disappointing to say the least.

 

[Chrisy]

All I can say -as of now- that I am working on this CE1 platform (as a Tier1, not as a Ford employee) and below statement feels correct to me:
" The new platform will be... (*ommited*) ...hitting the reset button at the company as competition grows. "

As an engineer at this point I am not sure if this more of a good thing or more of a bad thing.
But what is plain enough to even me is that it is going by a VERY different development approach than any other projects done with the "OG" Ford team so far.

Unfortunately I had no luck to work with a Rivian team (or any other of the "fresh development" OEMs to be more precise) so I cannot compare if this is just the art how latest EV development is done compared to the "old ways". So might be nothing to be surprised by someone who worked with Rivian/Lucid/etc.
Never the less this one is surprising because of the fact being a FORD development project.

My point is that to me it looks that so far Ford is sticking to the promise above.
However I am wondering if they will keep sticking to it even when they are hitting TPV/FDJ and see that working like a skunk what kind of a vehicle results in.

 

[mkhuffman]

At least reboot is all it took? Curious how often Ford has provided OTAs? Maybe perception of stability is tied to lack changes in software? IMO pace of software development (and frequency of updates) is what sets the "start ups" apart from legacy auto. Continuous development vs annual/bi-annual (if at all).

So for the second time in two weeks I got in my truck and both screens were black. The second time my wife was with me. I was preparing to drive the truck anyway and she put her cute foot down. So I did a hard reboot. Not a good look for someone who I keep trying to convince to buy a BEV. Maybe even a R1S.

I received many, many OTA updates on my Mach-e. I Iost track of how many. But Ford does struggle with updates because they don't control all the software modules. Their suppliers control many of them. So there were long periods of no updates. And then a flurry.

It didn't bother me because the car worked. There were a decent number of bugs in the first year but they cleared up and I never had one that kept me from driving the car.

One of the last updates they sent was the integration of Google Maps into the car with Android Auto. It was awesome. It had all the functionality of Google Maps with automatic charger adding and estimated SoC at destination. Rivian is still catching up to that. I do like the new Google Maps in my Rivian, it just doesn't have all the functionality Android Auto had in my MME.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

So for the second time in two weeks I got in my truck and both screens were black. The second time my wife was with me. I was preparing to drive the truck anyway and she put her cute foot down. So I did a hard reboot. Not a good look for someone who I keep trying to convince to buy a BEV. Maybe even a R1S.

I received many, many OTA updates on my Mach-e. I Iost track of how many. But Ford does struggle with updates because they don't control all the software modules. Their suppliers control many of them. So there were long periods of no updates. And then a flurry.

It didn't bother me because the car worked. There were a decent number of bugs in the first year but they cleared up and I never had one that kept me from driving the car.

One of the last updates they sent was the integration of Google Maps into the car with Android Auto. It was awesome. It had all the functionality of Google Maps with automatic charger adding and estimated SoC at destination. Rivian is still catching up to that. I do like the new Google Maps in my Rivian, it just doesn't have all the functionality Android Auto had in my MME.

Gen 2 growing pains? Don't have these problems with my "outdated" gen 1.

 

[mkhuffman]

Gen 2 growing pains? Don't have these problems with my "outdated" gen 1.

Good question. I love the truck but wish the software was a little more stable.

 

[emoore]

I wish people would stop using “skunkworks”. There is only one true skunkworks.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I wish people would stop using “skunkworks”. There is only one true skunkworks.

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