Partnerships as Avenues for Learning and Action

In our view, developing practical, broad-based sustainable mobility solutions will require the combined efforts of a range of private-sector partners representing transportation, energy, telecommunications, real estate, logistics and more, as well as government and consumer partners. That is why the following partnerships have been a key element of Ford's sustainable mobility strategy.

Sustainable Mobility and Accessibility Research and Transformation (SMART)

Ford has been working with the University of Michigan on the SMART project since April 2005. SMART takes a collaborative, systems approach to developing innovative, sustainable and connected mobility and accessibility solutions in urban regions around the globe. Building on the seminal work of Moving the Economy in Toronto, SMART has pioneered new thinking, new partnerships and pilot projects related to emerging New Mobility markets and industry development.

SMART has provided the empirical research and inspiration for Ford's mega-city mobility projects. The insights of the SMART leadership team have served as a foundation for our innovative approach to business opportunities related to New Mobility and for our work with other key sectors, including manufacturing, IT, logistics, tourism, real estate, design and more. In addition to developing New Mobility business opportunities and markets, SMART and Ford are seeking to improve quality of life, employment and other community benefits in cities all over the world over the long term. We are convinced that our partnership with SMART will produce a new systems approach for addressing the increasingly complex challenges to achieving sustainable mobility and accessibility globally, while at the same time transforming the transportation industry into a more sustainable and equitable New Mobility industry.

Georgia Tech JOINT RESEARCH PROJECTS

Ford and Georgia Tech have a strong cooperative relationship, focused particularly on sustainability. Our present joint research projects are funded under a multi-year agreement to partner in design, manufacturing and logistics, and in mega-city mobility research. Our collaborative approach has been effective in developing talent among students, faculty and Ford professionals, as knowledge is transferred between the university and company settings. For instance, the students develop enthusiasm for the contributions of engineering in the realms of manufacturing and sustainability, and they gain valuable work experience during summer internships. At present, Georgia Tech is assisting Ford by:

• Developing the business case for mega-city mobility, especially pertaining to finance, information technology and vehicles (including fuels, design, carbon and powertrains)
• Building on the results of Ford's prototype projects, particularly with regard to software device connections

Prince of Wales Programs

Ford has participated in The Prince of Wales' International Business Leaders Forum for seven years. This Forum was set up in 1990 by The Prince of Wales and a group of chief executives of international companies, in response to the emerging challenges of economic growth and change in the global economy. Its mission is to promote responsible business leadership and partnerships for social, economic and environmentally sustainable international development, particularly in new and emerging market economies. Ford has participated in several Prince of Wales events, including their Business and Environment and Business and Poverty programs. Through these forums, Ford leaders have gained a better understanding of global sustainable development issues and the variety of perspectives on the role of corporations in contributing to sustainability. In 2007, our relationship was strengthened as the Prince of Wales Cape Town leadership team joined with SMART and Ford to convene, lead and manage the Cape Town project.

World Resources Institute/EMBARQ Istanbul PROJECT

The EMBARQ Istanbul project, which began in July 2006, is designed to reduce vehicle emissions and traffic congestion in Istanbul, Turkey. The project is a collaborative effort between EMBARQ and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. The Istanbul projects are supported by EMBARQ's global strategic partners, the Shell Foundation and Caterpillar Foundation, with additional project support from Ford Motor Company, BP and Shell.

EMBARQ is the World Resources Institute's Center for Sustainable Transport. EMBARQ fosters government-business-civil society partnerships whose members are committed to solving transportation-related problems. EMBARQ identifies, tests, evaluates and implements financially, socially and environmentally sound solutions to local transport concerns within a three- to five-year time horizon.

Istanbul provides fertile ground for exploring the mobility opportunities and challenges of growing cities in developing countries. As with many developing mega-cities, large numbers of people from surrounding rural areas are moving to Istanbul in search of work. As a result, the number of vehicles in Istanbul is increasing by 600 a day, polluting the air and snarling traffic. People often spend hours in their cars getting to and from work, even when their total driving distance is significantly shorter than the average commute in developed countries.

EMBARQ helped to introduce the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) concept to Istanbul city leaders. In 2007, Istanbul's first BRT corridor began operations. Despite a problematic launch due to poor design and execution, BRT has proven to be a good solution for Istanbul's traffic congestion. The city has thus announced plans to open six more BRT corridors.

Another part of the EMBARQ Istanbul effort is the Clean Fuels Clean Vehicles project (CFCV), which seeks to develop an inventory of existing transport-based emissions, identify the key pollutants and run pilot projects to test various powertrain and fuel combinations. Pilot project ideas under discussion include hybrid vehicles, eco-driving and a diesel particulate filter retrofit program. The CFCV project is described further on the EMBARQ Istanbul Web site.

Sustainable Mobility Project of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development

In 2000, Ford joined with auto companies DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Honda, Nissan, Renault, Toyota and Volkswagen; tire maker Michelin; and energy companies BP, Norsk Hydro and Shell to form the Sustainable Mobility Project of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). In July 2004, the WBCSD released a report entitled Mobility 2030: Meeting the Challenges of Sustainability. The report was based on four years of work by the sponsoring companies, the WBCSD, academics and stakeholder forums examining future trends in mobility globally and identifying strategies that might make transport more sustainable. The study's authors reached the sobering conclusion that, "The present system of mobility is not sustainable, nor is it likely to become so if present trends continue." The report identified seven societal goals regarding mobility:

• Reduce conventional emissions from transport so that they do not constitute a significant public health concern anywhere in the world
• Limit greenhouse gas emissions from transport to sustainable levels
• Reduce significantly the number of transport-related deaths and injuries worldwide
• Reduce transport-related noise
• Mitigate traffic congestion
• Narrow mobility divides that exist within all countries and between the richest and poorest countries
• Improve mobility opportunities for the general populations in developed and developing societies

Since the release of this report, Ford has continued to work with the WBCSD and Sustainable Mobility project team members to raise awareness of the importance of mobility as a drive for economic development, the need to close the "mobility divide" and the need for mobility solutions for rapidly growing cities in the developing world. The findings of this project, and the comments about its strengths and weaknesses (as analyzed by Professor Tom Gladwin of the University of Michigan) were important catalysts of Ford's mega-city mobility project.

Global Road Safety Initiative

Several companies that participated in the WBCSD project – including Ford, General Motors, Honda, Michelin, Renault, Shell and Toyota – launched the Global Road Safety Initiative in 2004. The purpose of the initiative is to transfer best practices, with the objective of reducing accidents and building capacity in developing countries to manage road safety. Projects include educational outreach to increase rates of seat belt and helmet usage, and training aimed at improving roadway design.

The first focus of the initiative is China, where both the number and rate of traffic accidents are high and growing. Outstanding progress has been made in projects in the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations; major efforts are also ongoing in Brazil.

The projects are being implemented through the Global Road Safety Partnership, an existing organization founded by partners including the World Bank and national governmental aid organizations. Ford is taking an active role in the Partnership through chairing the Executive Committee as well as involvement in project execution. The projects will rely on delivery through local organizations, so that those organizations can build capacity and continue their work long after the projects are completed. The data will be extremely important for mega-city mobility development, and the safety issues are consistent with Ford's values regarding the social dimensions of sustainability and human rights.