John Hayes, founder and CEO of the Ghost Autonomy (a company that makes autonomous driving software for automakers), shared on X that Elon Musk (owner of X and CEO of electric car juggernaut Tesla) sent a document called “How to Design a 48-Volt Vehicle” to fellow auto industry CEOs.
With the photo below, Hayes wrote: “How many will read it themselves before they forward to the executive most likely to preserve the status quo [?].”
They weren't joking. We received the document today, dated Dec. 5th. Thanks, @ElonMusk. Great for the industry! https://t.co/DkLaHA84CY
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) December 7, 2023
Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor Company and Harley-Davidson board member, replied: “They weren’t joking. We received the document today, dated Dec. 5th. Thanks, Elon Musk. Great for the industry!”
On December 4, Farley announced that November wasn’t just a record sales month for its category-changing electric pickup truck, the F150 Lightning, but it was also Ford’s best month ever for EVs. Of all the F-150s sold last month, 25 percent were electrified, either hybrid or EV.
The best way to learn is to ‘go & see.’ That’s why I loved my time on the road this summer in the #F150Lightning. I learned from everyone I met. As we innovate & go electric, we still have work to do to support & serve our @Ford customers. Good progress this year. More to come!⚡ pic.twitter.com/2eayC8DQRI
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) December 7, 2023
In an effort to make electrification easier and less costly for commercial customers, Ford plans to install 30,000 EV charging ports for businesses by 2030.
Note: In addition to his role at Ford, Farley (who is a cousin of the late Saturday Night Live star Chris Farley) has a specific and important role on the board of directors at Harley-Davidson. CEO Jochen Zeitz nominated Farley to join the board to help prepare the motorcycle company for an electric future.
