Franck Louis-Victor, a former Renault executive hired by Ford 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 Michigan.
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 TV station WDIV in Detroit.
He was arraigned at 48th District Court in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., the station reported Tuesday, and is being held on $25,000 bond.
A probable cause conference is scheduled for July 18, and a preliminary examination is scheduled for July 25.
“We’re aware of what’s been reported, but it wouldn’t be appropriate to comment on personal matters,” a Ford spokesperson said in a statement.
Louis-Victor was hired in 2021 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.”