Ford About to get Serious about Software/Hardware, User Interface?

[MickeyAO]

Ford Hires Former Apple VP to Oversee New Customer Experience Effort

Sponsored

 

[MickeyAO]

Ford Hires Former Apple VP to Oversee New Customer Experience Effort

Don't know why the preview didn't appear.

 

[Maxx]

It looks like, they finally realize software is important. But they may be putting the ability to recognize a bear ahead of getting the updates right.

 

[H3IMDALL]

Depends on the VP, was not impressed with the intellect of the one I worked with. Sample size of one though lol. This one is an ex Time Warner exec, i.e, a media guy.. not a software guy.

 

[SmoothJ]

It is going to take months for him to get his feet wet, and nearly a year for any serious changes. So while this might be a good thing, we have time before anything major will happen.

 

[Zprime29]

Sounds like it is his job to figure out how to make money off us after we bought the car. I'm not hopeful on progress here.

 

[Lytning]

It looks like, they finally realize software is important. But they may be putting the ability to recognize a bear ahead of getting the updates right.

At the current update success level, it may / may not recognize the 15th bear to enter the campsite.

 

[boggle]

“Our industry is littered with bad choices about subscription services, and that is not the direction we’re going in,” Farley said.

Promptly proceeds to helm the new business unit with a guy that spent 6 years overseeing the expansion of Apple's subscription services. The intention always was to improve software and then charge you accordingly for it.

From the horse's mouth:

But Stern rejected the idea that companies like Ford were “nickel and diming” customers by introducing new subscription services. “The opportunity that we have is to deliver significant ongoing value to our customers,” he said. “And when we do that right, customers will sign up, not only for individual à la carte services, but I think we’ll also create bundles of services that make it really easy for customers to get the most out of their vehicles.” He added, “I firmly believe that when services deliver value to the customer, it’s appropriate for customers to pay for those services.”

 

[Lytning]

Promptly proceeds to helm the new business unit with a guy that spent 6 years overseeing the expansion of Apple's subscription services. The intention always was to improve software and then charge you accordingly for it.

From the horse's mouth:

From the link ... "Stern left Apple at the beginning of the year after a six-year tenure heading up the launch of a portfolio of services, including Apple TV Plus, Apple News Plus, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, MLS Season Pass, and Apple One. "

I have a dozen Apple devices, and I do not use even one of these listed "services".

 

[boggle]

I have a dozen Apple devices, and I do not use even one of these listed "services".

You also have the luxury of an app store that offers similar services through third parties. Freedom of choice. That will not happen with Ford under the guise of security or whatever excuse they want to use. Look how hard they already clamped down on API requests.

 

[Maxx]

I have a feeling this is an ongoing conversation between Farley and his bosses:

boss: Show me the money
Farley: Have patience, it will come
boss: How? When?
Farley: After sale is made, we have a captive audience we can use in multiple ways. We should sell cars the same way Google sells tablets. Not for the sales profit but to get access to consumer for data and future sales.

Ford wants to do this but does not know how. A while ago I got one of those self inflicted service soon warnings in the truck and immediately after, I got a sales pitch from SeriousXm: “ A thank you from your service center.……” saying that now that I have serviced my vehicle (which I never did) how about a Serious Xm subscription?

The police lyrics said it best:

Every breath you take
And every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
I'll be watching you

Every single day
And every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay
I'll be watching you

Oh, can't you see
You belong to me? …….


Obviously Ford will be looking hard to see what has value to us and will try to monetize it. I know access to Tesla network has value to me. I am just waiting for that hammer to drop on what I will be paying in addition to what I will pay at the charger. If Ford pass app is the gate keeper for super chargers and has a subscription fee, Both Tesla and Ford would want it this way. Ford will be making money after sales without doing much. And Tesla’s sales will be protected If charging at superchargers have additional cost for Ford customers but not for Tesla owners. Hay that may even push some current Lightning owners to trade in for a Cybertruck. I hope I am wrong about this. Marry Barra said GM agreement with Tesla was that charging at superchargers will cost GM customers the same as Tesla owners. I assume the same deal was made with Ford so if there is any additional cost, it would be imposed by Ford. Can’t wait to see how it will be implemented.

 

[GDN]

Every company doing well these days seems to be doing it off of services. I don't like it, it's a load of BS to some degree, but it is where we are headed.

I will say I'm somewhat OK with it in the case of a driving aid. If I don't want it I don't have to pay for it.

I am not OK with it in the case of heated seats, etc. If I pay for the option I'm not paying monthly to use it.

I think this is why Ford has announced they will just up the BC hardware in every truck. They find that once it is there people will activate it and then they don't deactivate it later.

 

[Jseis]

It looks like, they finally realize software is important. But they may be putting the ability to recognize a bear ahead of getting the updates right.

Elk (or Moose well NE of us) and horses are way more dangerous than bear around here.

Sponsored