Leaders from Ford Motor Company recently shared their thoughts, ideas, and approaches to the future of the company and its products during a media event at their headquarters in Detroit. A Global Lifestyle was there to hear it first-hand. Here are five things you need to know about Ford trends.
1. Automation is Coming
“The next decade will be defined by the automation of the automobile,” says Mark Fields, president and CEO of Ford Motor Company. The important question is when, of course, and Henry Blodget of Business Insider asked it. According to Ford, we should see automated ride sharing in five years.
2. Ford Will Go Further
Ford Motor Company is undergoing a serious shift in focus. It comes in response to consumer and economic needs, challenges and opportunities. Fields envisions Ford’s legacy as a forward-thinking company, as opposed to companies that are satisfied to just be “good enough.” Fields hopes that someday, looking back, he’ll be able to say about Ford: “The results were greater while I was here.”
3. Experience Over All
Driving a Ford will become an experience, rather than merely a way to get from Point A to Point B. Considering the quality of the ride from every aspect, Ford is looking at ways to not just compete, but rise above the competition through innovation. Innovation in technology, comfort and entertainment, among other areas, will lead to an elevated experience that will get consumers excited about Ford products.
According to design company IDEO: “We are now at the moment where we are thinking about layering experiences and meaning for products.”
4. Transition
Change can be scary, especially change for its own sake. But that’s not the case here. Fields says, “Don’t confuse activity with progress. The company is capitalizing on trends of importance to the market and its customers.” According to journalist Dan Lyons, “Ford has to disrupt its own business before someone does it for them. The must become a tech company.” Ford seems well aware of this and it’s confident that it has the resources–both financial and human–to make the transition: “We survived because of our company culture. Our employees really love us.”
5. Mobility
Getting around is a huge preoccupation for many, but for Ford there’s a lot more at stake than just transportation. For Ford, mobility means focusing on people, not the process. How does transportation affect people’s lives?
“Rethinking mobility could help address unemployment and the distribution of healthcare,” says Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company. “It’s an exciting time for Ford, making strategic choices to meet the needs of its customers in ways that go beyond the physical vehicles.”
Check out the photos captured by A Global Lifestyle founder Aniesia Williams when she visited Ford’s headquarters for the event. #GoFurther #FordTrends
