The initiative is being piloted for its Dearborn, Michigan, campus in the United States as part of the Ford Smart Mobility programme and uses four customised Ford Transits with complimentary Wi-Fi and USB charging capability.

The Ford shuttle service also introduces smart ride-hailing technology, with a mobile-friendly Web portal and smartphone application to be made available to riders next quarter.

Once riders have requested a collection, the Ford-developed software – including the algorithm that drives the platform’s technical capabilities – immediately determines the shuttle best suited to address the request without delaying existing passengers.

It then sends the rider an offer detailing proposed pick-up time and maximum duration of the trip, which the requester can accept or decline. If accepted, the request is dispatched to the shuttle driver’s navigation interface, along with the most efficient route, to help meet all passengers’ needs in the quickest way.

“The Dynamic Shuttle solution could fill the gap between a taxi service and buses in cities around the globe,” said Erica Klampfl, global mobility solutions manager, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering. “It could also offer a valuable service in emerging economies, where growth is outstripping development of the public transport infrastructure.”