Ford drives mobility plans with latest start-up acquisitions

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Ford is bolstering its plans for mobility solutions for fleet, private drivers and cities globally with the acquisition of two further start-ups.

Ford has announced four newly established, integrated teams for its mobility division.

Ford has announced four newly established, integrated teams for its mobility division.

The mobility unit’s Ford Smart Mobility LLC subsidiary is acquiring transportation architecture and technology provider Autonomic while Ford is also acquiring TransLoc, which provides technology for cities running transit solutions. Terms of the acquisitions were not disclosed.

Ford said the acquisition of Autonomic would accelerate its plans to establish the Transportation Mobility Cloud – which will be expanded beyond Ford to include other automakers, suppliers, partners and cities from 2018 – and support its plans to scale up other key mobility initiatives, including the drive toward full connectivity. Ford’s mobility team is currently looking to drive the company’s commitment of 100% connectivity of new vehicles in the United States by 2019 and push toward its goal of 90% connectivity globally by 2020.

Autonomic will also aid Ford’s plans for a raft of ride-sharing launches in cities globally this year under its Chariot brand, and its plans for non-emergency medical transportation.

Ford has also realigned its Mobility division with the creation of four new teams covering: Ford X – which will be led by Sunny Madra, CEO and cofounder of Autonomic as vice president; Mobility Business Group – with Marion Harris, chief financial officer, Ford Credit, as vice president; Mobility Platforms and Products – headed up by Rich Strader as vice president; and Mobility Marketing and Growth – under the helm of Brett Wheatley, director, ford marketing, sales and service fitness transformation, as vice president.

“2018 is the year Ford Mobility moves from foundation building to product and service delivery, and we are acting decisively to ensure our teams are set up for success,” said Marcy Klevorn, president, Ford Mobility. “The acquisitions of Autonomic and TransLoc, together with the new organisation will enable faster innovation incubation and product development times, as well as increase the group’s ability to scale and create value for our shareholders.”

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Natalie Middleton

Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for nearly 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day. Natalie edits all the Fleet World websites and newsletters, and loves to hear about any latest industry news - or gossip.