FordPass®, part of Ford’s
transformation into an auto and mobility company, aims to do for car
owners what iTunes did for music fans
Launching in April, FordPass reimagines the relationship between
automaker and consumer; membership is free whether you own a Ford vehicle
or not by registering online
Benefits include a Marketplace offering mobility services;
FordGuides, who are always there to help you move; Appreciation, for
membership loyalty; and FordHubs, where you can go to experience the
company’s latest innovations
Ford partnering with ParkWhiz to help drivers
find and pay for advance parking more easily, and with FlightCar to help
consumers share and borrow; FordPay makes it easy to pay for mobility
expenses
Ford also
partnering with McDonald’s and 7-Eleven to reward FordPass members
with merchandise and unique experiences
FordHubs to open in New York, London, Shanghai
and San Francisco; first will open later this year at New York’s
Westfield World Trade Center
DETROIT-- January 11, 2016: As part
of its transformation into an auto and mobility company, Ford is
introducing FordPass® – a platform that reimagines the
relationship between automaker and consumer. FordPass aims to do for car
owners what iTunes did for music fans.
FordPass members can talk to
personal mobility assistants – FordGuides – night or day to
help resolve their mobility challenges, whether finding a more efficient
way to get around or booking parking before reaching their destination.
Members can reserve and pay for advance parking, virtually build their
ideal vehicle at one of several FordHubs globally, and receive rewards for
FordPass membership loyalty.
“Ford always has been motivated
to make people’s lives better,” said Mark Fields, Ford
president and CEO. “We did it when we put the world on wheels a
century ago and we do it now through our strong lineup of cars, SUVs,
trucks and electrified vehicles. Today, we take our commitment one step
further with the introduction of FordPass – an all-new platform that
may be our most revolutionary yet.”
A FordPass membership is
free for Ford vehicle owners and non-owners alike. The platform officially
launches in April.
FordPass is part of Ford Smart Mobility, the plan
to take the company to the next level in connectivity, mobility, autonomous
vehicles, the customer experience, and data and analytics.
“As we’ve studied the mobility challenges people face, we
designed FordPass to help provide services that make consumers’ lives
easier,” said Fields. “FordPass is really about listening to
people’s needs and developing ways to help them move
better.”
FordPass features four elements to benefit members:
Marketplace includes mobility services; FordGuides help consumers move more
efficiently; Appreciation, where members are recognized for their loyalty;
and FordHubs, where consumers can experience Ford’s latest
innovations.
Marketplace All members will have access to mobility services through FordPass
Marketplace.
Ford is working with ParkWhiz and Parkopedia to
help people find and pay for parking more easily, and with FlightCar to
borrow and share vehicles when they travel. In the future, services will
include ride sharing, car sharing, multimodal transportation and more.
Members can pay for these services through FordPay – a virtual
wallet.
“FordPass is about convenience,” said Stephen
Odell, Ford executive vice president, Global Marketing, Sales and Service.
“We’re connecting consumers with the world, making it all
incredibly easy.”
Ford owners can easily connect with their
preferred dealer to schedule maintenance and service appointments or to
review their Ford Credit vehicle finance account details.
Members
who own Ford vehicles equipped with SYNC® Connect can use
FordPass to access vehicle features such as remote start; lock and unlock;
fuel, oil and battery charge levels; tire pressure readings; and to locate
their vehicle.
FordGuides No one wants to be just a number. That’s why FordPass members
can speak directly to trusted and knowledgeable FordGuides – all at
the touch of a button.
For example, if a member decides he
would like to book advance parking for an upcoming show but is unsure how
to reserve it, one push of a button on his smartphone lands him in a live
chat with a FordGuide who will lead him through the options and help to
reserve parking.
The guides will be available free of charge. Their
only job is to guide, serve and help solve mobility challenges – not
to sell.
Appreciation FordPass Appreciation is about making mobility more rewarding
– no matter the journey.
Members will be rewarded for
doing simple things, such as registering to become a member, booking
parking, or interacting with FordGuides.
And by collaborating with
affinity partners McDonald’s, 7-Eleven and others, FordPass can
recognize members with access to merchandise and unique experiences.
“We’re engaging with our customers – and our potential
customers – aiming to make every interaction with the Ford brand a
positive experience,” said Elena Ford, Ford vice president, Global
Dealer and Consumer Experience. “We want consumers to know how much
we appreciate them, and with FordPass, we’re taking loyalty a step
further.”
FordHubs FordPass also includes the opening of FordHubs, where consumers
will be able to explore the company’s latest innovations, learn about
its mobility services and experience exclusive events.
The
first of these urban storefronts opens later this year at Westfield World
Trade Center in New York, followed by FordHubs in San Francisco, London and
Shanghai.
On-site FordGuides will help guests understand mobility
options available in their cities, explore solutions for their mobility
needs, view a real-time mobility map of their city, and experience special
events, including new vehicle reveals.
“These aren’t
places where we’re trying to sell something,” said Odell.
“We want to hear people’s thoughts, and we want to show them
what we’re doing to solve the transportation issues of today and
tomorrow – and not just in their city, but around the
world.”
FordPass launches this spring in the United States and
Canada, followed by other markets including Europe, China and Brazil later
this year. FordPass capability is activated through smartphones. Consumers
can sign up for more information and updates at MyFordPass.com.