Making Connections And Building Relationships With FordPass And Smart Mobility #FordNAIAS

I attended the 2016 NAIAS as a guest of Ford. I have not received any compensation for this post. Please note that, as always, any personal opinions reflected in this post are my own.

I’ve thought for a long while that companies need to put as much effort, if not more, into keeping existing customers as they do trying to entice new ones. In a press conference at NAIAS this past week, Ford CEO Mark Fields announced that the sales perspective is changing. Ford is no longer just a transportation company, they have started to become a transportation and mobility company. To that end, there is a new focus being placed on building and maintaining a relationship with consumers long after a sale has been made. The first steps towards doing this have already been taken, with the official unveiling of FordPass and the beginning of the implementation of Smart Mobility technology.
Ryan Seacrest joined Fields and Ford President Bill Ford for a discussion on technology and the exciting new direction it is heading in. The transformation from a transportation company to a transportation and mobility company will involve many different existing and emerging technologies. We in the audience learned some of the details of the different aspects of FordPass.
FordPass® is a new platform that will empower you to rethink the way you move. Through a collection of personal, digital and physical solutions, FordPass will provide you with more mobility options so you can go further than you thought possible.
The FordPass Marketplace will be a one-stop mobility marketplace for a range of solutions that will help you move more easily — from vehicle controls on properly equipped vehicles to smart parking reservations.
Ford Guides will be a team of experts available to help you via live chat or phone. These Guides will be ready to help you carry out numerous tasks. They can help you locate carshares, find parking, navigate traffic and even connect with your dealership.
FordPass Perks will recognize members with exclusive access to merchandise and experiences available from Ford as well as lifestyle partners such as 7-Eleven, McDonald’s and others. By simply going about your day as usual you will earn rewards through this new appreciation program.
FordHubs will be urban storefronts that invite you not only to experience easier ways to move today, but also to explore, learn and rethink what a smarter way to move could mean for you tomorrow. The first FordHub will be located in the Westfield World Trade Center in New York City, with additional locations slated to follow in San Francisco, London and Shanghai.

FordPass will have some other great features and benefits as well, all working towards the goal of improving mobility for consumers. As was pointed out in the discussion, mobility means different things for different people. FordPass is available for all to use, whether or not they own a Ford. You don’t even have to own a car at all to find benefits in using FordPass. Wondering how that would work? It’s simple, and such a great idea. Ford is working with FlightCar on a car share program where folks can borrow and share vehicles when traveling.
Parking. Whether you own your vehicle or if you’re traveling and driving a rental, finding parking can still be a sometimes unpleasant reality. FordPass is working with ParkWhiz and Parkopedia to create a simpler way to find parking a well as pay for it right through the app.
Other exciting concepts are happening at Ford, making it easier than ever for people to have access to a vehicle. Ford Credit has announced a new lease sharing program that will allow up to six people to share a lease. The cost would be split between each of the six, with planning, usage and payments being tracked digitally. The pilot program for this will be taking place in Austin, TX within weeks.
And speaking of leasing. If you’re familiar with leasing, you know that mileage is a factor. Ford Credit has a new finance program where at the end of their lease, select customers would receive credit for unused miles that could be used towards their next new vehicle.
Development of autonomous vehicles continues. Ford has been developing these vehicles for over ten years. Tripling the number of vehicles, Ford now has the world’s largest autonomous testing fleet. Testing takes place in California, Arizona and Michigan, including the simulated Mcity site at the University of Michigan. They will be the first company to test autonomous vehicles in the snow, aiding in development and planning, as well as understanding how to best serve all customers.
Ford continues to develop technologies related to driver safety. They’ve got a lab in Dearborn, Michigan where they focus on wearable tech. This technology monitors biometric data such as blood pressure and heart rate. If it senses that the driver is getting sleepy or very stressed it will automatically activate defensive technologies such as automatic cruise control and lane-keeping assistance.
I envision a lot of things when I think of mobility. I envision transportation for those with physical handicaps and special needs being more affordable and more accessible, things that make me feel good when I contemplate my own son’s future. I love to see Ford putting passion and priority on something that could really make a difference in my son’s life and many others. It is likely he will never drive his own car. As such, the idea of simple ride sharing accessible through an app is extremely appealing to me. I am very excited to learn about the direction Ford is going in, and equally excited to watch their journey getting there.

How are mobility and technology important to you?

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