#ford

#ford

Four years ago, Ford and South Korean battery maker SK On struck a deal to form a joint venture and spend $11.4 billion to build factories in Tennessee and Kentucky that would produce batteries for the next generation of electric F-Series trucks. The factories live on; the joint venture will not. SK On, a subsidiary of SK Innovation, said Thursday it reached an agreement with Ford to end the joint venture.

No one can tell from their stock prices that Ford Motor Co. ( NYSE: F) and General Motors Co. ( NYSE: GM) have almost completely wasted the tens of billions of dollars each has put into electric vehicles (EVs). There is even a rumor that Ford will kill its EV flagship, the F-150 Lightning. The stock market favors manufacturers that produce and sell gasoline-powered cars. In parts of the world, especially outside China, it will remain a great business for years, if not decades.

Since announcing the policy, Ford has sent some employees emails telling them that they are not badging in enough and warning that they could face termination if they do not improve their attendance, three current and former Ford employees told Business Insider. Two said they had received these emails despite complying with updated office attendance policies and having previous work-from-home arrangements signed off by their managers.

So apparently, legacy automaker Ford (F) took a look at all the problems it is currently facing, from a supplier that suffered a major fire to tariff problems and economic concerns from potential buyers, and decided the way to fix this was to get more people in the office. That could be an oversimplification, but Ford is reportedly doubling down on this plan, threatening workers with firing if they are not in more.

On Thursday morning, screens at Ford offices displayed a picture of CEO Jim Farley with a slashed circle over his face and the words "F**k RTO" emblazoned above. Social media sites started sharing the pictures, IT staff reset the screens shortly afterwards, and now the hunt is on for the mystery protester. "We're aware of an inappropriate use of Ford's IT technology and we're investigating it," Dave Tovar, Ford spokesman, told the Detroit Free Press.

The hands-on management practice is called "gemba," which Farley said he "fell in love with at Toyota," where he started his automotive career. Gemba stems from the Japanese phrase "genchi genbutsu," meaning "go and see with your own eyes," Farley said. The concept refers roughly to the real place where real work is done on real things, as opposed to a plan or model of production.

Are you going to allow OEMs to control the vehicles? said Farley on The Verge's Decoder podcast. How far do you want the Apple brand to go? Do you want the Apple brand to start the car? Do you want the Apple brand to limit the speed? Do you want the Apple brand to limit access? In this respect, Ford has already rolled out several features to its Pro customers, such as limiting access to the vehicle on the weekend.

This outlier, rooted in a traditional, old-line industry, has delivered returns that surpass many of its high-flying peers in 2025. Its performance challenges the narrative that only tech can lead in today's market. With a year-to-date gain exceeding 23%, this stock proves that value and resilience can still compete with the sector's biggest names, offering investors a compelling alternative in a tech-heavy portfolio.

After unveiling plans for a $30,000 electric truck, senior Ford executives told journalists it was the perfect launchpad for their new EV program. Trucks, they argued, make it easier to integrate certain features-even if those features aren't used every day. But the EV market doesn't follow the same rules as gas vehicles. Growth has been driven by crossovers and Ford isn't ignoring that segment.

Does Ford Motor Co. ( NYSE: F) have enough cash now and going forward to pay its rich dividend? There should be a great deal of skepticism accorded to a complex and detailed examination of Ford's financials. At risk is its current forward dividend yield of 5.22%, as provided by Yahoo. The figure is so high that it has become a primary reason to own the stock of the deeply troubled automaker.

The $5.8 billion Glendale site currently employs about 1,450 workers and could grow to 5,000 if it reaches full capacity. Its inauguration has come after reaping benefits from the Biden administration's pro-climate policies, mainly the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). In December 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded BlueOval SK a record $9.3 billion loan to build three battery plants: two in Kentucky and one in Tennessee. At the time, the DOE said the projects would support 5,000 construction jobs and create up to 7,500 operations jobs.

Ford's new affordable electric pickup prioritizes affordability by focusing on the basics, rather than features like a massive battery that would increase its price.

Ford's application for the Ranchero nameplate indicates plans for a new electric pickup, potentially reminiscent of its historical two-door car with a bed.

Ford has installed more than 10,000 chargers across 50 states as part of its initiative to provide complimentary home chargers with new EV purchases.

"We believe working together in person on a day-to-day basis will help accelerate Ford's transformation into a higher growth, higher margin, less cyclical and more dynamic company."