In a keynote address on Monday at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Mark Fields, CEO of Ford Motor Co., announced the automaker will open its first mobility hub later this year at the Westfield World Trade Center in Manhattan, along with introducing new mobility offerings for Ford customers worldwide.
“As we look to the future, it is clear we are on the cusp of a revolution in mobility — from car sharing to autonomous driving to the customer experience,” Fields said. “Technology and innovation provide us with the opportunity to address these trends and to make people’s lives better by changing the way the world moves.”
Fields said FordPass, a platform that allows drivers to talk to personal mobility assistants,
will offer customers exclusive offers with BP, McDonald’s, and 7-Eleven. He said FordPass members will also be able to search for parking spaces based on location, cost, availability, and user ratings.
In addition, Ford is working to expand the range of car-sharing and parking services offered in European cities. Ford has a predictive parking system in London, capable of directing drivers to streets where they’re most likely to find a space. The automaker also offers car-sharing services in Germany.
In turn, Fields on Monday introduced the Kuga SUV with new technologies including perpendicular parking technology that helps drivers park hands-free, an active city stop collision avoidance system, and an adaptive front lighting system.
He said the Kuga offers Sync 3 communications, allowing drivers to control audio, navigation, climate functions, and connected smartphones using voice commands. Fields announced new apps for the Sync 3 system, including one that enables drivers to earn money by transporting packages.
For more background on Fields’ plans for Ford, read DBusiness magazine’s exclusive interview in the January/February issue here.
