According to Sawyer Merritt on X, Ford’s Model e unit posted a $1.2 billion Q4 loss with a -94.6% EBIT margin and $1.3 billion revenue, down 7% year over year, attributed to the loss of EV credits and an F-150 Lightning production pause. As reported by Ford’s Q4 earnings release and investor commentary, these pressures heighten the urgency for higher-margin software-defined vehicle strategies, including over-the-air features, advanced driver assistance systems, and fleet telematics that rely on machine learning. According to Ford’s prior disclosures and earnings calls, BlueCruise take-rates and subscription roadmaps are central to improving unit economics, creating opportunities for AI-enabled ADAS, perception stacks, and data platforms that can offset hardware margin compression. As reported by industry analysts summarizing Ford’s results, suppliers and SaaS partners in perception, mapping, and predictive maintenance can benefit as Ford pivots to recurring software revenue to stabilize EV profitability.

According to Sawyer Merritt, approximately 95% of Ford's electric vehicles sold in the U.S. are manufactured in Mexico, excluding the discontinued F-150 Lightning, while their North American parts content remains low—only 45% for the gas F-150 and Escape, and just 20% for the Bronco. In contrast, Tesla leads the industry with up to 75% American-made content in its vehicles. This disparity highlights a significant trend in the AI-driven automotive supply chain: companies like Tesla are leveraging AI-powered manufacturing and logistics within the U.S. to optimize production and meet increasing demand for domestically sourced electric vehicles. For AI industry stakeholders, this trend presents opportunities for AI integration in EV supply chains, localization strategies, and regulatory compliance solutions in North America (Source: Sawyer Merritt on Twitter).