Ford Shares Mobile Vision at Mobile Asia Expo, Showcases Mobile Technology at Connected City

SHANGHAI, China, June 26, 2013 – Ford is using Mobile Asia Expo to provide a glimpse into the streets of the future, where everything intelligently connects and where Ford’s in-car connectivity and driver-assist technologies provide an easier, safer and more personalized driving experience.

 

Ford will be the only automaker attending Asia’s most prestigious mobile conference to participate in the Connected City exhibition during the June 26-28 event. At the Connected City, attendees will be able experience what a connected city life means first-hand.

Visitors to the specially designed GSMA Connected City exhibition will be able to experience Ford’s class-leading technologies by participating in a test drive with a range of vehicles to choose from including the all-new Ford Mondeo, the all-new Ford EcoSport, the all-new Ford Kuga and the Ford Focus ST.

Ford today also announced it will form partnerships with China’s largest internet company Baidu and telecommunications company China Unicom, providing developers access to the power and capabilities of Ford SYNC^® AppLink™, opening up opportunities for the development and introduction of even more apps in AppLink-enabled vehicles.

“Mobile Asia Expo is the perfect platform for Ford to demonstrate why we are a world leader in developing smart technologies which make the driving experience for our customers not only easier, but also safer and more enjoyable. The announcements we are making at this important event represent the next step in expanding our in-car connectivity technology offering to the Chinese customers” said John Lawler, chairman and CEO, Ford Motor China.

 

Ford also announced that it will expand its technology footprint in China by bringing its Developer Program to the world’s largest auto market, where it aims to tap into a burgeoning network of developers.

 

Ford will introduce a Chinese-language version of its developer.ford.com web site – part of which is now live – to make it easier for Chinese developers to work with Ford on creating apps for its vehicles. Developers in China who work through the development process will be able to take advantage of a rapidly growing potential market. Calculations by Forrester Research show that China already has the largest number of smartphones of any country in the world.

 

Ford is also introducing the AppLink Catalog app, through which customers will be able to more easily discover and download new AppLink-enabled apps.

Ford and Baidu are exploring collaboration opportunities between AppLink and Baidu Cloud services, including Baidu Location Based Services offerings, to provide developers with richer functions so they can take advantage of the technologies offered by both services.

 

As Ford expands its technology presence in China, it also announced the introduction of nine AppLink smartphone apps which will be introduced into the local market, including a local maps application from Baidu, a voice assistant app from Baidu, a social media networking app from Sina Weibo, a weather app from Sina, a navigation app from AutoNavi, a Traffic app from AutoNavi, a voice assistant app from Sogou, a music app from Douban, and a radio aggregation service from QingTing.fm.

 

Meanwhile, Ford and China Unicom announced a unique partnership that will open a new frontier for innovation by providing access to the powerful capabilities of Ford SYNC^® AppLink™ to developers on China Unicom’s vast app store. The Ford Focus ST and SYNC^® AppLink™ will be on display at the China Unicom stand at Mobile Asia Expo, providing visitor with an opportunity to experience Ford’s powerful technology.

 

Leveraging the in-vehicle connectivity features of AppLink and China Unicom’s leading 3G wireless technology, the agreement paves the way for the development of a growing number of apps for China Unicom’s WoStore, which can then be utilized in AppLink-enabled vehicles.

 

Ford and China Unicom are also investigating the possibility of integrating AppLink with China Unicom mobile apps, such as 116114, which offers a comprehensive information inquiry services about food, housing, transportation and tourism.

 

Visitors to the Ford stand in the Connected City exhibition will experience an interactive journey, offering them an insight into the connected car of the future with SYNC^® AppLink™.

On display will be the all-new Ford Mondeo, a connected car of the future which features Ford SYNC as standard equipment. It also offers SYNC with MyFord Touch which can understand Mandarin Chinese and respond to over 10,000 intuitive voice commands.

 

Visitors to the Ford stand will be provided with a Drive Connected Booklet, a navigation tool which will guide them through the stand.

 

A Ford Drive Connected study area will include interactive stations such as SYNC Your Music –demonstrating how the system is a personal entertainment hub –– and SYNC & Drive, a voice activated feature to demonstrate SYNC with MyFord Touch’s functionalities including climate control, calling, text, and music.

 

Guests can use a QR code to register for the Ford test drive, where they will experience a hands-on demonstration of Ford’s class-leading technologies: Ford’s hands-free tailgate, MyFord Touch, Active City Stop, Blind Spot Information System and Active Park Assist.

 

Ford will also have on display several Technology Development Kits, which will offer live demonstrations on how the new nine apps announced today work.