Is that a problem?

Cisco pioneered the model of outsourcing a lot of its technical research (two different teams would quit and start startups to solve problem X; one would get traction then Cisco would buy it -- bonus for the team! -- and the others get their jobs back).

Big Pharma has pretty much outsourced early stage candidate development.

In both these cases (and many others) the large company has strong development, manufacturing, distribution and sales pipelines as well as strong balance sheets, none of which a startup is likely to develop.

If Ford chooses this path I don't see it a reason to criticize.