Ford moving toward smarter, more sustainable driving

John Lawler, president and CEO of Ford China

US automaker Ford is preparing to offer its smart mobility plan and the choice of a more sustainable lifestyle to Chinese families.

"We want to lead the automotive industry in delivering smart, connected mobility to our customers around the world - now and in the future," said John Lawler, president and CEO of Ford China.

"We want to help create a smart, connected and sustainable transport system that extends the freedom and economic opportunity of personal mobility to everyone."

Lawler made the remarks when he addressed the audience at the Ford booth at CES Asia, held in Shanghai from May 25 to 27.

Ford showcased its in-car SYNC system, which allows drivers to control mobile apps with voice commands while driving. SYNC One is already in use in some of Ford's models available on the market. Many drivers like the function as it allows them to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, according to the company. New versions of the system are already in the pipeline.

Smart personal mobility is another focus for Ford. "The global growth of mega cities like Shanghai means there is an urgent need for mobility solutions that make life better, not just for those with vehicles but for everyone," said James Buczkowski, director of electrical and electronic systems at Ford.

A frequent problem that drivers face in cities is finding parking spaces, so Ford is developing a parking spotter as a solution.

The solution will mean vehicles with sensor technology can detect empty spaces and information on the spaces. GPS coordinates are then sent to a cloud data center to be shared among drivers.

Lawler said the smart mobility solution is just part of the bigger picture that altogether will impact daily life. Ford is conducting 25 smart mobility experiments worldwide, with seven in Asia, to learn more about customer demands in future transport systems, according to the automaker.

Considering the number of vehicles in China, Lawler said the nation is the most likely to benefit from the experiments. Ford is also working on a sustainable pilot program called MyEnergi Lifestyle, in partnership with Haier, Trina Solar and Delta Electronics. The program will begin with families in Beijing and Shanghai.

It will give families plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, at-home solar power systems and efficient appliances to demonstrate the real world impact of energy-saving products.

The program will track participants' energy use and carbon output to highlight the environmental and economic advantages of vehicle electrification, solar energy generation and utilizing efficient appliances in the home.

Buczkowski said Ford will work with more Chinese partners as similar experiments continue to roll out. The US auto maker has attached greater importance to smart mobility - it established a research and development center in Silicon Valley in January.

Staffed with more than 120 engineers, the center is dedicated to studies on big data, connectivity and autonomous driving.

US automaker Ford is preparing to offer its smart mobility plan and the choice of a more sustainable lifestyle to Chinese families. [Photo/Han Yan, chinadaily.com.cn]