Yahoo Autos Ford Next CEO Arrested Following Domestic Dispute
Ford Next CEO Franck Dominique Louis-Victor was arrested on Saturday with charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and arson following a domestic violence incident inside his home.
According to Click On Detroit, the domestic dispute took place on July 8, with Oakland County Sheriff officials accusing Louis-Victor of attempting to ignite two designer handbags amid the struggle. That led to the preparation to burn property worth between $1,000 and $20,000 charge. The executive was arraigned at 48th District Court, with bond set at $25,000. The proceedings will continue shortly, with a probable cause conference on the books for July 18. Preliminary examination will take place the following week on July 25.
“We are aware of what has been reported in the press, but it would be inappropriate to comment on personal matters,” a Ford spokesperson told the publication.
Louis-Victor joined Ford in 2021 after a stint as an executive with Renault. He would initially serve as the vice president of New Business Platforms, but would take on his CEO role at Ford Next in late 2021. Ford Next is the forward looking arm of the Blue Oval, tasked with development of autonomous vehicle technologies and broader mobility services. The unit itself was formed in late 2021 under the direction of Ford CEO Jim Farley. The team has taken a lot of this AV and ADAS work in-house following the collapse of the Ford-backed startup in Argo AI.
Ford Next also looks to form joint ventures and business partnerships within the mobility and technology sectors. Just last month, the department launched its new Ford Drive leasing program, which aims to make the switch to an EV easier for Uber drivers in select markets. The partnership provides special leasing incentives to Uber drivers, and allows customers to sign shorter term lease deals. The program is currently only offered in select cities in California.
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