Ford can save up to $2.5 billion this year through better management of production schedules and a drop in commodity prices, the company's chief financial officer, John Lawler, said at an auto conference. The automaker posted dismal quarterly results earlier this month and blamed chip shortages, supply chain disruptions and production "instabilities" for adding to its costs. Lawler has said Ford faces $5 billion in higher costs this year and that the company will be "very aggressive" in reducing expenses in its manufacturing, supply chain and distribution operations. Longer term, the company aims to reduce dealer inventories and drive more transactions online, among other measures, according to Chief Executive Jim Farley. Making an EV more aerodynamic can save "thousands of dollars in battery costs," Farley said.

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