MULTINATIONAL carmaker Ford Motor Company and tech giant Google LLC entered a partnership to accelerate Ford’s transformation to reinvent the connected vehicle experience for its customers.
In return, Ford named Google Cloud as its preferred cloud provider, leveraging on Google’s expertise in data, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities.
As part of this six-year partnership (set to begin in 2023), millions of future Ford and Lincoln vehicles will be powered by Android, built in with Google’s app and services.
To drive ongoing innovation, Ford and Google are establishing a new collaborative group, Team Upshift, which will focus on various projects ranging from developing new retail experiences when buying a vehicle, creating new ownership offers based on data and more.
“As Ford continues the most profound transformation in our history with electrification, connectivity and self-driving, Google and Ford coming together establishes an innovation powerhouse truly able to deliver a superior experience for our customers and modernise our business,” said Ford president and CEO Jim Farley.
As its preferred cloud provider and starting later this year, Google will help Ford leverage Google Cloud’s AI, ML and data analytics technologies to accelerate the automaker’s digital transformation, modernise operations, and power connected vehicle technologies with Google’s cloud technology.
With Google Cloud, Ford plans to:
Further improve customer experiences for customers with differentiated technology and personalised services;
Accelerate modernisation of product development, manufacturing and supply chain management, including exploration of using vision AI for manufacturing employee training and even more reliable plant equipment performance;
Fast track the implementation of data-driven business models resulting in customers receiving real-time notices such as maintenance requests or trade-in alerts.
Once the two companies turn their keys on the ignition of the partnership in 2023, Ford and Lincoln customers all around the world will be able to enjoy various additional benefits, including:
With Google Assistant, drivers can keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, by getting things done with just their voice.
With Google Maps as the vehicles’ primary navigation, drivers can reach their destination faster with information on real-time traffic, automatic rerouting, lane guidance and more.
With Google Play, drivers will have access to their favourite apps for listening to music, podcasts, audiobooks and more. These apps are optimised and integrated for in-vehicle use.
“We are obsessed with creating must-have, distinctively Ford products and services,” said Farley. “This integration will unleash our teams to innovate for Ford and Lincoln customers while seamlessly providing access to Google’s world-class apps and services.” – Feb 6, 2021
