Ford is celebrating its jump up the JD Power Initial Quality Study rankings. In 2023, the brand ranked 23rd. In 2026, it leads the mass-market brand segment.
Ford attributes the improvements to its newly hired technical specialists, known internally as “Grey Beards.” The company has looked for the best talent, hiring from other automakers and suppliers, as well as promoting from within. Now there are around 350 technical specialists, each in their own field, to identify problems before they arise.
While AI is used to process data and assess how systems will work, the Blue Oval’s technical experts are still needed to catch problems.