Ford has created a new business unit, Ford City Solutions, focused entirely on helping people move more easily through cities.
“We know that every city is unique, with different needs and different transportation challenges,” says Mark Fields, president and CEO of Ford. “Instead of taking a ‘one size fits all’ approach, we are working with cities directly to help develop solutions that are tailored to each location.”
One of the company’s most promising offerings is Chariot, an app-based, crowd-sourced shuttle service that complements mass transit for city residents. Ford estimates that urban congestion could be reduced by up to 25 vehicles for every shuttle that is placed into service during peak times. The service, which complements existing mass transit options, has already launched in San Francisco and Austin, Texas, with plans to work with at least four more cities over the course of the coming months.
“Because Ford Transit vans are perfect for this application, it’s a great example of how our core business is supporting new, emerging opportunities in mobility services,” Fields says
