Ford down to five global platforms

Ford is cutting back its global modular vehicle platforms to just five to save costs.

The aim is to slash US$25.5 billion in costs during the next five years.

The One Ford project cut global architecture from 30 to nine – now it’s down to five, which includes an all-electric platform.

While One Ford helped the company achieve global scale, Ford’s product development and purchasing head Hau Thai-Tang told the 2018 JP Morgan Auto Conference in New York it didn’t get the desired scale on the regional or local level, Automotive News reports.

He says moving to five platforms will help save costs and boost the efficiency of Ford’s supply base, adding that up to 70% of a vehicle’s value can be managed through a modular approach.

The platforms are rear-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive body-on-frame; front-wheel-drive/all-wheel drive unibody; commercial van unibody; rear-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive unibody; and an EV unibody platform.

Ford aims to save about US$7 billion in engineering and product-development costs while reducing by 20% the time it takes to bring a vehicle from sketch to showroom.

The automaker is also moving its product portfolio away from most cars and more toward light trucks by 2020.

Ford plans to phase out traditional sedans in North America and Thai-Tang says they’ll be replaced by new vehicles with different body styles in the same entry-level price range.

The focus will be on “bold, emotive designs” in the pickup, commercial van and utility sectors.