James Buczkowski

Jim Buczkowski is the Executive Director for Ford Motor Company’s Research, Advanced Engineering and ADAS operations. He leads research activities in electrification, controls, automated systems, robotics, intelligent embedded systems, sustainability, materials and manufacturing. In addition, he leads Ford’s Advanced Driver Assistant Systems design and development.

Buczkowski has been with Ford for 43 years and has experience in electronics design, electronics manufacturing (including manufacturing assignments in Spain as well as the United States), Product Development quality, and manufacturing and supply chain information technology. He’s been involved or led key projects including Ford SYNC and MyFord Touch connectivity systems, Ford’s Common Global Electrical architecture and early in his career, Ford’s first 16 and 32 bit powertrain controls electronic designs. Most recently, Jim was a Henry Ford Senior Technical Fellow focusing on electronics and software technologies. Jim was also key in establishing Ford’s Palo Alto and Israel Research facilities where he stays closely involved in scouting for new technology and innovation.

To say Jim Buczkowski is an early adopter is an understatement. He’s always anxious to experience how technology can change our lives and his home is filled with gadgets ranging from technology from Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Oculus and Nest. Jim enjoys music and movies and has a 4K, Dolby Atmos dedicated home theater that he says allows for a full immersive visual and audio experience. He says the best way to evaluate experiences that technology can create is through hands on activities. “It’s easy to envision what technology can do, but I’ve learned that you really don’t understand it until it’s in your hands and you are using it.” He believes a quick prototype, even if it’s not elegant, demoing the experience is extremely powerful and necessary before one can really decide whether the technology can deliver a valuable consumer experience.

Buczkowski is an SAE Fellow and is active in the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International’s Motor Vehicle Council, helping to develop standards for current and emerging technologies. He is also active in various cross industry, innovation forums and is eager to network inside and outside the auto industry to stay on top of trends and stay informed on the latest in innovation.

Jim also believes that monitoring consumer tech trends is helpful in finding opportunities to partner and innovate at Ford. He is active in the Consumer Technology Association and a two-time member of its Board of Industry Leaders. He also serves on the CTA Technology Advisory committee which is part of the CTAs standards activities.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and a master’s degree in electrical engineering, both from the University of Michigan.