This story is available exclusively to Business Insider
subscribers. Become an Insider
and start reading now. Have an account? .
Even as the broader US job market cools, AI keeps punching above its weight.
New data from Indeed shows overall job postings ended 2025 just 6% above pre-pandemic levels, but postings that mention AI are up more than 130% since early 2020.
The standout stat: more than 1 in 25 job postings now reference AI, pushing Indeed’s AI Tracker to a record 4.2% in December.
The skew is striking. Nearly 45% of data and analytics roles mention AI, compared with about 15% in marketing and 9% in HR, even as hiring across many knowledge-work fields remains weak.
As employers narrow hiring plans, AI roles are absorbing a growing share of expectations, raising a big question: Can AI carry the labor market in 2026?
Sign up for BI’s Tech Memo newsletter here. Reach out to me via email at abarr@businessinsider.com.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Harry Luu, owner ofPlantZaddyTherapy. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I’ve always been a gardener and enjoyed being around plants. While I was in graduate school studying math, my collection of houseplants grew. There’s an attention to detail and a hyperfocus that I found in both mathematics and plants, so my hobby complemented my academic career.
During the pandemic, my interest in rare plants blew up. I started getting a bigger collection and trading up for more valuable plants.
Eventually, my hobby transformed into a business. I finished my graduate degree and started teaching math in California, but three years ago, I left academia to sell plants full-time.
My academic career was a safety net for my family of 8
I grew up in Vietnam, and I’m the embodiment of the American dream for my family. They put all their eggs in my basket, which allowed me to come to America and study. Now, I feel it’s fair to return their investment. I support not only myself and my husband, but also my parents, my brother, my sister-in-law, my niece, and my nephew.
Every time Kelly publishes a story, you’ll get an alert straight to your inbox!
Stay connected to Kelly and get more of their work as it publishes.
Leaving my job while supporting a family of eight in California might seem risky, but it was calculated. I had reached the point where I saw the potential for financial freedom from investments I had made during grad school that had very good returns. I had years of data on plant sales, and also knew I could return to academia if needed, so I had a safety net.
I price based on rarity and desirability, without going too high
I was already connected to the rare plant community, so selling increasingly expensive plants felt like a natural progression. I grew my platform on Palmstreet, an online marketplace.
This year, I had two record-breaking sales in one day. I sold a $16,000 plant (an Anthurium Variegated Forgetii x Heinz, one of only two in the world), then a $26,000 plant (the only specimen of the True Variegated Lux Albo Mother Plant).
A $16,000 plant sold on Palmstreet by Harry Luu
Courtesy of Palmstreet
I’m a math person, so I use a formula to price. I calculate rarity and desirability and compare them with price data from the previous three years. These plants were both very rare and highly desirable, which drove prices up. However, I didn’t want to price them too high, because I’m thinking about the long-term viability for my brand: people have to be able to purchase what I’m selling. Given how rare the plants were, their five-figure prices weren’t too big a splash.
I want to be able to connect with the community more
Despite those big numbers, the business’s income fluctuates dramatically. My best single week was over $200,000 in sales, but other weeks I might have no sales. The market is seasonal, and winter is slow. I’ve had to adapt to not having a steady, reliable income.
The money comes and goes, but the work never stops. Right now, I spend about 100 hours a week on the business. We have plants in our home, and also a large greenhouse on our property. My brother does some of the maintenance care for the plants, but all the breeding decisions are made by me.
I’m on the cusp of the company being able to sustain itself without me working so much. I look forward to that — when I can step back from the business side and focus more on the joy of growing. I would like to share my knowledge about rare plants and take the plants on the road to connect with my community more, since that’s what got me hooked on growing in the first place.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Maddi Thimont, 37, based in London. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I always wanted a big career in law. I finished my law degree in 2007 with first-class honors and got my big break at a private law firm, gaining experience in corporate law.
It was very busy, with long hours, but it was amazing training, so it suited me really well at the time.
Securing my next role in corporate counsel at a Big Tech firm was a real career high. It was intense, but the experience really shaped me. But then, I became a mother of two, and at first, the perks of working for such a big brand were indisputable. Despite that, I started wondering if I could really have it all.
I wanted a 4-day week
This company had a great plan allowing a phased return from maternity leave, so both times, I did two and a half days a week for eight weeks. Being able to gradually get back into my career while still spending time with my children was priceless. Then, for the second half of the year, I worked a four-day workweek.
That was when it started to get tricky, and when I began to question: can I have it all? I had hoped that I could make a four-day workweek my new normal, but there wasn’t much of a precedent for it in my team, so I felt like I’d be navigating uncharted territory on my own.
Maddi Thimont says her weekends start at 3:10 p.m. on Fridays.
Courtesy of Maddi Thimont
And based on the pace I was already familiar with, I anticipated that I would have just had to fit a full-time load into less time. The thought of that didn’t thrill me, so that’s when I started to think about other opportunities.
I took a job that allowed me to have a shorter workday
I booked a call with a life coach to talk about what I wanted to do. I told her my ideal job would involve being intellectually stimulated during the day, but then to be around for my children, now aged 3 and 5, in the evening.
I started manifesting, in a way, by looking for my dream job as a senior lawyer that I could do during school hours. I did a double take when I saw a head of legal role advertised on LinkedIn for data analytics company Sagacity for 25 hours a week.
Just before Christmas 2023, I had an interview with the outgoing general counsel there. She talked about how she gave up her legal career for 15 years while raising her kids, and when she wanted to get back into it, someone gave her a chance in a part-time role. She wanted to pay that forward.
I did the math with my husband, and with our eldest close to starting school — meaning we’d have lower day care fees to pay — we were confident that we could make my new part-time salary work. I started my new job in March 2024 as Sagacity’s head of legal, working 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., five days a week. A year later, I was promoted to general counsel.
I have clear priorities and processes
What helps is having a really clear “ticket” system at the company for anyone who needs legal support. They raise a ticket, which goes into our legal dashboard with a deadline and a priority level (high, medium, or low). My team and I then provide an anticipated response date.
I’ve also created more templates and FAQs so people can be empowered to not have to come to legal for every single thing.
I am now on the senior leadership team and have frequent one-to-ones with other members to help prioritize my work. Then, obviously, if the CEO needs something, it usually takes priority.
I’m also very efficient with my time. If someone asks for a half-hour meeting, I try to cut it down to 15 minutes. I won’t accept a meeting without an agenda, either. I also don’t tend to have many coffee breaks or lunches with colleagues. I know it might sound a bit sad, but every minute counts.
I get to have a big career and be with my kids
I recognize that I’m in a privileged position to do this, as my husband is a lawyer too and works full-time as a partner at a firm. But I honestly feel so lucky, because our lives have totally changed.
Now, I still get to be a senior lawyer, and I can take the kids to their afternoon activities, like swimming and piano, and I can see how well they’re doing, which I love being part of. On Fridays, we just chill. I always say that our weekend starts at 3:10 p.m. on Friday.
With my shorter working hours, I have also found time to fit in additional opportunities. For example, I recently passed a well-recognised GDPR data protection qualification. I was also able to train for and complete the London Marathon.
Without this way of working, I would have likely continued on the corporate path with the long hours, paying for nannies, and after-school clubs. The alternatives may have been to take a demotion or find a part-time job doing something else, or just not work at all – none of which were right for me.
Committing to both work and the kids can feel intense at times – but I think the positives outweigh the negatives. Our family life is quite calm, so everything feels fulfilling.
AT&T is hoping to entice parents concerned about screentime with a smartphone designed for children. Whether children will be enticed is another question.
The telecommunications company debuted the amiGO Jr. Phone on Friday. The company says it will give parents greater control over how their children interact with smartphones. The rollout also featured the new amiGO Jr. Watch 2.
AT&T’s new amiGO Jr. Phone.
AT&T
“Putting customers at the center of our business means anticipating what comes next — not just responding to what already exists,” Erin Scarborough, the senior vice president of Revenue Management & Commercialization at AT&T, said in a press release. “As smartphones become a daily necessity, parents have made it clear they need better tools to help their children navigate the digital world safely.”
After purchasing the smartphone, parents can download an app that allows them to set several safety features. They include location tracking, up to 30 pre-approved contacts, established safe zones, customizable controls for each device, and “schedules to limit distractions during school hours.”
AT&T
The app can also implement safety features on AT&T’s amiGO Jr tablet, which the company released in 2024.
Every time Lauren publishes a story, you’ll get an alert straight to your inbox!
Stay connected to Lauren and get more of their work as it publishes.
AT&T collaborated with Samsung to build the smartphone’s hardware. The smartphone costs $209.99.
Parents vs. smartphones
In the age of smartphones, parents have raised concerns over the tech’s impact on children’s and teens’ mental health.
A 2025 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that teenagers who had higher non-schoolwork-related screentime were more likely to have “adverse health outcomes,” including irregular sleep routines, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and insufficient peer support.
Access to social media on smartphones is also a concern. Over a dozen attorneys general filed lawsuits against TikTok in 2024, accusing the social media platform of targeting young users with addictive algorithms and features. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has also faced legal action over the platform’s potentially harmful impact on young users.
As a result, parents have sought different ways to navigate the complex technology landscape. Some parents have invested in products like Gabb, a kid-friendly smartphone, while others have purchased landline phones created for children. Dumb phones, which don’t have social media and other advanced app functions, have emerged as another option.
A growing number of young folks are also ditching smart devices as part of a movement embracing real-life connections and a healthy relationship with technology.
“I feel like I’ve spent so much of my early life glued to a screen. I find it particularly addicting and incredibly dangerous,” a Gen Z woman told Business Insider in 2025. “I think we need to be worried about the repercussions this will have on both individuals and society.”
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider
subscribers. Become an Insider
and start reading now. Have an account? .
Eddie Bauer faces potential store closures and a looming bankruptcy filing.
The outdoor apparel retailer dates back more than a century.
The brand was founded in 1920 by outdoorsman Eddie Bauer.
For more than a century, Eddie Bauer has been synonymous with American outdoor adventure apparel. Now the iconic brand is facing the possible collapse of most of its brick-and-mortar business as a bankruptcy filing looms.
The retailer’s roughly 180 stores across the United States and Canada could soon be shuttered amid plans for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing tied to the brand’s North American store operations.
Eddie Bauer, one of the oldest brands in American outdoor apparel, has a storied history. It’s also faced bankruptcy twice before.
The brand was founded in Seattle in 1920 by outdoorsman Eddie Bauer, who two decades later patented the first quilted goose-down jacket in the country.
At its height, Eddie Bauer had more than 500 stores worldwide, including hundreds across North America and additional locations in Japan and Germany.
Today, Eddie Bauer’s retail footprint has shrunk to roughly 200 stores — most of which could soon be on the chopping block as the entity operating the retailer’s stores in the US and Canada prepares a bankruptcy filing, sources familiar with the situation have told Business Insider.
Here’s a look back at the Eddie Bauer brand through the years:
Eddie Bauer, an outdoorsman and businessman
Eddie Bauer. Associated Press
The late Bauer patented the iconic water-resistant, bomber-style “Skyliner” jacket in 1940. He was inspired to create the coat after a near-fatal experience with hypothermia during a winter fishing trip in Washington state.
”I was climbing a very steep hill when I started to get sleepy,” Bauer said in a 1981 interview with The New York Times while describing the encounter. ”I reached to touch my back and it was ice. I realized I was freezing to death.”
Apparel built for harsh conditions
An Eddie Bauer storefront in 1990. Dave Buresh/Denver Post via Getty Images
Over the years, the Eddie Bauer brand cemented its place in the outdoor apparel industry through durable, innovative gear and clothing designed to withstand extreme conditions.
Eddie Bauer outfitted the first American ascent of Mount Everest
Climber Peter Whittaker wore Eddie Bauer gear to the summit of Mount Everest. Cyrus McCrimmon/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Eddie Bauer gear has long been used by adventurers.
In 1953, Bauer created his first mountaineering parka for the American team attempting the first ascent of K2 mountain in Pakistan.
In the decades that followed, the Eddie Bauer brand continued outfitting elite climbing teams with parkas and other cold-weather gear, including the first American team to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1963.
General Mills once owned Eddie Bauer
General Mills played a role in Eddie Bauer’s history. Al Drago/Getty Images
General Mills Inc. is a big part of Eddie Bauer’s history.
The cereal maker and food conglomerate owned the outdoor apparel brand from 1971 to 1988.
General Mills built up Eddie Bauer into a prominent retail brand, expanding it to about 60 stores before selling it to Spiegel Inc. for $260 million.
A longtime partnership with Ford
Eddie Bauer partnered with Ford. Scott J. Ferrell/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Eddie Bauer and Ford Motor Company partnered in the early 1980s to launch special edition Eddie Bauer vehicles. That collaboration lasted for nearly three decades.
Under the partnership, models like the Ford Explorer, Expedition, and F-150 featured Eddie Bauer trim branding and upgrades, including leather interiors and two-tone exteriors.
The Eddie Bauer Ford Explorer was particularly popular.
“Customers come in and ask to see the Eddie Bauer version, and it’s almost sold on sight,” a general manager of an Ohio car dealership told The Plain Dealer newspaper in 1991.
Eddie Bauer’s environmental advocacy
Brothers Alec Baldwin and Billy Baldwin didn’t stay dry at the event. Evan Agostini/Getty Images
In 2000, Eddie Bauer partnered with the environmental organization Riverkeeper on the Eddie Bauer-Riverkeeper Kayak Challenge held on the Hudson River near Manhattan’s Chelsea Piers.
Actor brothers Alec Baldwin and Billy Baldwin were among the participants at the event. Photos from the challenge show that the Baldwin brothers got soaked.
Two bankruptcy filings
Nearly 200 Eddie Bauer stores may soon face closure. Tim Boyle/Getty Images
Eddie Bauer has previously been through two Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructurings.
The first time was in 2003 when its then-parent company, Spiegel, filed for bankruptcy. Eddie Bauer emerged from that bankruptcy two years later as a stand-alone company.
Facing mounting debt, the retailer filed for Chapter 11 in 2009 and was acquired by private equity firm Golden Gate Capital later that year through a bankruptcy auction.
The brand was later acquired by Authentic Brands Group, in partnership with SPARC Group (which has since become Catalyst Brands), in 2021.
Per Yearwood’s instructions, I cooked the onions in a pan and added the thinly sliced chicken breasts, garlic, a cup of water, and half a cup of hot sauce.
I simmered the chicken in hot sauce for about an hour, but after trying a piece, I didn’t think this gave the meat that much flavor. All the work seemed a little redundant when the recipe called for adding more hot sauce to the mayo mixture anyway.
Once the chicken had simmered, I combined this mixture with the sour cream, mayo, cheddar, and a quarter cup of blue cheese.
I thought the directions took an odd turn when they said to serve the dip “with the chicken” in step four. I followed the comments-section consensus and mixed the chicken into the dip before topping it with the remaining blue cheese and green onions.
Ochoa thinks of her parents’ side of the house as a distinct home.
“Once you hit that door, you basically walk into a whole separate house,” Ochoa said. “They also have the open concept, and I feel like their side feels a lot bigger than it is because of that.”
Their space has a living room, kitchen, an office, and a half bathroom in addition to their primary suite. They don’t have a separate dining area, but they have a table big enough for four people to eat.
The entire home is also mostly ADA accessible, which may come in handy as everyone ages.
“All of our doorways throughout the entire house are wider than standard doorways,” Ochoa said. Their showers are also wheelchair accessible. No one in their family needs the accessibility at the moment, but they wanted the home to suit their needs, no matter what.
“We’re not planning on moving,” Ochoa said. “I didn’t build this house for nothing.”
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider
subscribers. Become an Insider
and start reading now. Have an account? .
I spent a year hiking in 11 countries, visiting some of the world’s most beautiful natural regions.
My favorite trails, including the Lago di Sorapis in Italy, had stunning views and less traffic.
Although I enjoyed every hike, there were some trails that I wouldn’t revisit because of the crowds.
Exploring the mountains is my favorite way to see a new place.
So, when I spent a year as a traveling winemaker and nomadic freelance writer in Europe and Oceania, I set out to hike in every country I visited.
I traversed narrow, rocky paths in the Dolomites, meandered through Scotland’s sweeping green valleys, and trekked past kangaroos in the Australian bush.
Now, over a year later, I can say I’ve hiked in some of the most awe-inspiring corners of the world. There are four trails I’d return to in a heartbeat, and three ticketed ones that felt crowded and overhyped.
I’d love to hike in Leutasch, Austria, again.
I hiked the Rotmoosalm-to-Wettersteinhütte loop, and found the experience so worthwhile. Sierra Newell
In the Austrian Alps, just south of the iconic Zugspitze mountain, lies Leutash, a lush, pristine alpine valley with an immense network of trails.
The circular Rotmoosalm-to-Wettersteinhütte tour was tough — the full loop is around 9 miles with over 3,000 feet of elevation gain — but in my opinion, it condensed the most idyllic aspects of the Austrian experience into one hike.
I saw dense forests, stunning craggy peaks, green meadows, mountain streams, ice-blue lakes, and traditional mountain huts, all in one day.
My hike to Lago di Sorapis in Italy was worth the effort.
I’m still thinking about my hike in the Dolomites. Sierra Newell
After traveling through the Dolomites last October with my boyfriend, I still dream about our 7.5-mile hike to Lago di Sorapis.
Carved into the rockface with a dramatic dropoff to the autumnal forest below, the technical out-and-back trail definitely required some steady footing on the ascent.
That said, the lake’s opaque turquoise waters, contrasted by pale rocky mountains, made it well worth the journey.
I’d definitely hike to the Kozjak waterfall in Slovenia again.
I loved my experiences hiking in the Soča Valley. Sierra Newell
My best friend and I road-tripped through Slovenia in the fall, traveling north to south along the Italian border. Deep within the magical Soča Valley is Slap Kozjak, a 49-foot emerald waterfall tucked inside an open gorge.
Just over 2 miles, the waterfall loop follows a scenic route along a cliff’s edge, over a wooden suspension bridge, and through ankle-high forest creeks.
Although I usually prefer longer, more challenging hikes, I loved that this route was easy enough that I still had energy to explore the area.
The iconic Hérisson waterfalls in France were stunning.
My hike to the Hérisson waterfalls was unforgettable. Sierra Newell
Over the summer, I traveled to the Jura region of France and hiked the iconic 4.3-mile trail that tours past a steep succession of seven unique waterfalls.
I found that this was the perfect time to visit — I loved watching the dappled sunlight filter through the bright green tree canopy, and almost glitter against the trail’s flowing rivers.
It’s a popular hike, though. Next time, I would start earlier to avoid the crowds and enjoy the picturesque views in solitude.
On the other hand, I’d skip the Italian Dolomites’ Tre Cime di Lavaredo next time — or plan my visit more strategically.
The Tre Cime di Lavaredo is a famous hike, but I was surrounded by tons of tourists. Sierra Newell
Most famously known as the Three Peaks of Lavaredo, this UNESCO World Heritage Site lies in the heart of the Dolomites.
I thoroughly enjoyed my fall visit here, but I made the mistake of starting in the early afternoon, and the hordes of visitors made my €40 parking fee much less worthwhile.
Even during the Dolomites’ low season, the popular, 6.3-mile trail was already filled with hikers, climbers, and beer drinkers by the time I started it.
I found the Eisriesenwelt in Austria to be too overcrowded.
This short ice-cave hike was memorable, but very crowded. Sierra Newell
The Eisriesenwelt was the first — and arguably the most memorable — hike I completed after moving abroad in August 2024.
South of Salzburg, it’s a relatively short but steep climb along an open rock face that leads to the largest ice cave in the world.
Although this hike was a fascinating and unique experience, it’s also easily accessible by cable car, which — in my experience — meant large crowds and long wait times.
The Fairy Glen trail in Scotland’s Isle of Skye was beautiful, but I wouldn’t go back.
The Fairy Glen was an easy, picturesque trail, but not one I’d necessarily visit again. Sierra Newell
My sister and I walked the Fairy Glen trail on the Isle of Skye during our Thanksgiving road trip through Scotland.
It’s an easy, mile-long path up grassy hills, past unusual rock formations and herds of roaming sheep. The views were beautiful and fairy-tale-like, but the small paid car park became flooded with visitors as the day progressed.
Between that, the short trail length, and the wet, gray weather that turned the trails into mud, I’d prefer to explore Scotland’s more dramatic and remote long-distance trails.
“I’ve fallen prey to the pixie dust thing as well, where it’s like, ‘Oh, we’ll hire someone from Google or Apple, and they’ll be immediately successful,'” Musk told Stripe cofounder John Collison and tech Dwarkesh Patel during a 3-hour-long appearance on a special joint episode of their podcasts.
It’s why Tesla’s CEO doesn’t put his full faith in a candidate’s résumé.
“Generally, what I tell people—I tell myself, I guess, aspirationally—is, don’t look at the résumé. Just believe your interaction. The résumé may seem very impressive, and it’s like, ‘Wow, the résumé looks good.’ But if the conversation after 20 minutes is not “Wow,” you should believe the conversation, not the paper,” he said.
He said he’s made other mistakes, too. “My batting average is still not perfect, but it’s very high,” he said. That includes the times he’s discounted certain personality traits.
Every time Brent D. Griffiths publishes a story, you’ll get an alert straight to your inbox!
Stay connected to Brent D. Griffiths and get more of their work as it publishes.
“I think it’s a good idea to hire for talent and drive and trustworthiness,” he said. “And I think goodness of heart is important. I underweighted that at one point. So, are they a good person? Trustworthy? Smart and talented and hard working? If so, you can add domain knowledge.”
Musk said that it takes a lot to truly impress him.
“The things I ask for are bullet points for evidence of exceptional ability.”
The examples “can be pretty off the wall,” but he’s looking for evidence of something truly great.
“If somebody can cite even one thing, but let’s say three things, where you go, ‘Wow, wow, wow,’ then that’s a good sign,” he said.
Hiring is just part of the battle.
When companies like Tesla are successful, Musk said, their competitors take notice and do everything they can to poach top talent.
“Tesla had a further challenge where when Tesla had very successful periods, we would be relentlessly recruited from,” he said. “Like, relentlessly.”
Musk said when Apple had its own electric car program, recruiters for the tech giant were “carpet bombing” Tesla employees to the point that some engineers just unplugged their phones. (In 2024, Apple reportedly abandoned its secretive car program.)
“Their opening offer without any interview would be like double the compensation at Tesla. So we had a bit of the ‘Tesla pixie dust’ thing where it’s like, ‘Oh, if you hire a Tesla executive, suddenly everything’s going to be successful,'” he said.
Some former employees have complained about Musk’s management style. During the interview, the Tesla CEO joked about his reputation as a micro manager, insisting that it be called “Nano management, please.” Musk said that, in reality, he now doesn’t have enough time to oversee every aspect of his sprawling empire.
Ultimately, though, Musk said he just wants one thing.
“If somebody gets things done, I love them, and if they don’t, I hate them,” he said. “So it’s pretty straightforward. It’s not like some idiosyncratic thing.”
Ford is undergoing a radical factory overhaul to compete with Chinese automakers. Its CEO just offered a peek inside.
On Thursday, Ford CEO Jim Farley shared four behind-the-scenes photos on X of engineers working on the automaker’s Universal Electric Vehicle project. It’s a new platform and manufacturing system designed to underpin a family of smaller, lower-cost EVs.
Farley described the effort as “one of the most audacious and important projects in Ford’s history.”
“American innovation is how we compete and win against China and the rest of the world,” Farley wrote in the post.
The update adds new detail to Ford’s sweeping rethink of how it designs and assembles electric vehicles, as Chinese EV makers — led by BYD, now the world’s largest EV seller — rapidly expand in foreign countries with lower-priced models.
Every time Ben publishes a story, you’ll get an alert straight to your inbox!
Stay connected to Ben and get more of their work as it publishes.
An early peek at our brilliant team working on the Universal Electric Vehicle project – one of the most audacious and important projects in @Ford‘s history. American innovation is how we compete and win against China and the rest of the world.
Farley’s photos focus on the first vehicle expected to launch on the platform: a midsize electric pickup truck starting at $30,000. They show Ford employees working on vehicle prototypes — and reveal an early look at what appears to be its grille-less design.
The company confirmed to Business Insider that it plans to launch the vehicle in the US in 2027.
“A Ford team member working on the front end of a prototype – one of the hundreds of prototypes the team has designed and developed to shape the face of the truck over the last few years,” Farley wrote about one of the images.
Engineers are spending “countless hours” refining the truck’s aerodynamics, Farley said.
A massive manufacturing re-think
The manufacturing changes behind the vehicle may be even more significant than the design itself. Farley unveiled the new manufacturing plan during an August event dubbed the “Latest Model T Moment.”
Unlike the traditional assembly line — a single, linear conveyor made famous by Ford’s 1908 launch of its first mass-produced car, the Model T — the new system uses a three-pronged “assembly tree” approach. Separate lines build the front, rear, and battery underbody of the vehicle in parallel before they are joined later in the process.
Ford says the redesigned system uses 25% fewer fasteners and roughly half as many cooling hoses and connections.
Other images from Farley’s post show the factory’s new unicasting system — which Farley says reduces the number of vehicle parts — and engineers working on new designs.
Fewer parts could mean lower car prices, the company said in August.
Responding to billion-dollar pressures
The push comes as Ford makes costly changes to its EV strategy. In December, the company discontinued the F-150 Lightning pickup and scrapped plans for a large all-electric commercial van, recording a $19.5 billion write-down tied to canceled EV programs.
Going forward, Ford plans to focus on smaller, more affordable electric vehicles, as well as extended-range electric vehicles, or EREVs, which pair electric drivetrains with onboard gas generators.
The strategy reflects mounting pressure from China’s EV industry. BYD overtook Tesla last year to become the world’s top EV seller. Chinese EV sales have been gaining momentum across Europe — and last month, Canadian officials announced plans to lower tariffs on Chinese-made cars.
That momentum could prompt further changes at Ford. Earlier this week, Reuters reported that Ford is in advanced talks with China’s Geely about potential manufacturing cooperation.
