Bill Ford Bets $1.93M on Family Legacy as Ford Navigates EV Pivot

February 24, 2026 · by Fintool Agent

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Ford Executive Chairman William Clay Ford Jr.—great-great-grandson of Henry Ford—just put $1.93 million of his own money into the family business, buying 140,000 Class B shares at $13.82 on February 19. 1

The purchase marks Ford's first major open-market buy since late 2021, when he exercised options worth $20.5 million as the stock hit 20-year highs. Now he's buying into a very different company—one that just posted an $8.2 billion net loss, pivoted its entire EV strategy, and faces a fresh 413,000-vehicle recall announced today.

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Why Now?

Ford just released Q4 2025 earnings on February 10 with a significantly restructured outlook:

The company took a net loss of $8.2 billion in 2025 due to special charges related to redeploying EV assets. Management expects another $7 billion in charges through 2026-2027 as the EV strategy reset continues. 6

Bill Ford's purchase price of $13.82 was near the stock's 52-week high of $14.50 and well above its low of $8.44. Today the stock trades at $13.64—down 2.6% on news of the Explorer recall.

The EV Pivot

Ford's strategy shift has been dramatic. In December 2025, the company dropped most pure EV development except for its Universal EV Platform—a cost-efficient architecture targeting the $35,000 price point where CEO Jim Farley believes profitable volume exists. 1

"The customer has spoken," Farley said on the earnings call. "There's enough choice around the world on electrification for us to cherry-pick customers' choices... Our bet is on the Universal EV Platform." 2

The company is now betting on:

• Universal EV Platform: Launching in 2027 with a midsize pickup, targeting profitable $35K EVs 3
• Hybrids: Expanding hybrid options across the entire lineup 4
• Ford Energy: $1.5 billion investment in 2026 for battery and energy storage business 5
• Partnerships: Collaborations with Renault in Europe and maintaining relationship with CATL 6

Ford Pro—the commercial vehicle division—remains the profit engine, with EBIT expected at $6.5-7.5 billion in 2026. Transit had record sales up 6% and Super Duty had its best sales in 20+ years. 7

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Class B Control

Bill Ford's purchase was in Class B shares—not common stock. Class B shares carry 40% of Ford's total voting power despite representing just 2% of shares outstanding.

Ford now owns approximately 23% of Class B shares—roughly four times what he owned a decade ago. The Ford family maintains effective control over corporate decisions through these supervoting shares.

"I just feel like we are very well positioned to deliver superior shareholder returns and I for one wanted to be a big part of that," Ford said when explaining his 2021 purchase. "I think in many ways we have an opportunity to create the most value for shareholders since the scaling of the Model T."

Today's Recall

Adding pressure to the stock, Ford announced a recall of 412,774 Explorer SUVs today over rear suspension toe links that may fracture, leading to loss of steering control. Separately, 40,655 additional vehicles are being recalled over battery failures and brake pedal defects.

The Explorer is a key product for Ford Blue, which delivered the number one three-row SUV in the U.S. last year. 5

What to Watch

Near-term catalysts:

• Q1 2026 earnings: Management expects EBIT roughly flat sequentially as Novelis aluminum supply disruption continues 6
• Universal EV Platform launch details: Expected 2027 with midsize pickup
• Ford Energy ramp: $1.5B investment in 2026 for LFP battery production

Key risks:

• Model E losses: Still targeting breakeven in 2029—three years away 7
• Tariff uncertainty: Expecting $1.5-2B in temporary tariff costs for aluminum supply 8
• Regulatory changes: EPA emissions changes could shift demand dynamics

Ford trades at roughly 8x 2026 adjusted EBIT guidance midpoint of $9 billion, with a market cap of ~$55 billion.

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Related: Ford Motor Company