Ford Motor Co.

Digital Product Design – Design at Ford

Leading the Connected Vehicle Ecosystem

Defining the strategic vision for all digital connectivity within Ford's Integrated Services—including Wi-Fi, 3rd party applications, and next-gen entertainment—to build a unified and monetizable digital experience.

xx%

$x,x

Increased revenue

Subscription growth

Problem statement

Customers expect in-vehicle connectivity, from streaming video to critical vehicle updates, to be as reliable, secure, and performant as their personal devices. However, the current system struggles to deliver a consistently high-quality experience across all usage contexts leading to frustration, eroding trust in the 'Smart Car' promise, and creating safety-of-use concerns

How might we engineer and design a 'zero-fail' connectivity infrastructure that provides a trustworthy, high-speed, and secure digital foundation, making the Ford vehicle the most reliable connected device the customer owns?

Achieving the vision

Ensure the paid experience (e.g., always-on, real-time Google Maps) is demonstrably superior to the free or mobile-tethered alternative (e.g., standard Apple CarPlay/Android Auto projection), creating a strong Willingness To Pay (WTP).

Goal

Value proposition

→ Safety & Zero-Friction Context
→ Uninterrupted, Dedicated Performance
→ Next-Level Family Entertainment

Current in-market tech

This is the core new infotainment architecture, powered by Android Automotive OS with Google Built-in, which your team is leveraging for consumer services.

Dream big – Innovate!

Guide the strategic design and integration of all next-generation digital connectivity to ensure our vehicles evolve into the most seamless and valuable software-defined platforms on the road.

Next level connectivity

How might we leverage spatial computing and vehicle data to create an adaptive, personalized in-car environment that anticipates driver and passenger needs, re-defining "connected" as "ambient intelligence?

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More entertaining road trips

How might we design the future of family road trips to feel less like a long commute and more like an immersive, collaborative experience that turns the vehicle's windows and cabin into a dynamic entertainment canvas?

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Off-road guru

How might we leverage real-time satellite connectivity and predictive AI to transform the off-roader's vehicle into a self-diagnosing, always-locatable mobile hub that eliminates the fear of isolation while preserving the spirit of raw, off-grid adventure?

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Ford Digital Experience

All-new, high-speed infotainment system built on Google Built-in that seamlessly integrates native apps, advanced personalization, and 5G connectivity to transform the vehicle into a continually evolving digital hub.