Autonomous Vehicle News
Franck Louis-Victor, a former Renault executive hired by Ford Motor Co. in 2021 to oversee its new businesses unit, was arrested last weekend on felony charges of arson and assault with a dangerous weapon after a domestic dispute at his home in Bloomfield Township. Louis-Victor, CEO of Ford Next LLC and vice president of Ford's new business platforms, is accused of trying to burn two high-end handbags worth up to $20,000, according to multiple media reports. Louis-Victor, 50, was hired to oversee Ford's autonomous vehicle and mobility services teams as well as its Ford X incubator. Last year, however, Ford announced it was disbanding Argo AI, its autonomous vehicle joint venture with Volkswagen, and pivoting away from fully autonomous vehicles to focus on other driver-assist technology. In his company profile, Ford says Louis-Victor's business unit "focuses on ways to offer new, technology-forward customer experiences in various domains such as energy, supply chain, iOT, and distribution."