Ford has announced it will be replacing its head of quality, reports the Detroit Free Press.
Jim Baumbick, who has held the role since late 2022, will be moved to oversee the entire vehicle programs team as it integrates EVs, the automaker said Wednesday. A replacement for Baumbick has not been named.
The change is expected to take effect next year, following a particularly tumultuous year of recalls for Ford—though it’s led in number of recalls since 2021.
Earlier this year, Ford agreed to a civil penalty of up to $165 million after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found it took too long to implement a recall, and is also under a consent order to reevaluate every recall it’s issued in the past three years.
Additionally, Ford’s second-quarter earnings showed that warranty costs increased by $800 million compared to the first quarter of this year. This was largely comprised of issues with vehicles released in 2021 or earlier.
