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Jan 9, 2009 01:03 PM | 4
LAS VEGAS, NEV.—Ailing automakers are using every edge they can when it comes to selling their product, particularly as consumers hunker down for a lean 2009. Ford Motor Co. chief executive Alan Mulally said Thursday at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) here that one important part of his company’s strategy is to offer its Sync technology—an in-car communications and entertainment system that Ford and Microsoft announced at CES in 2007—on more cars. Sync—currently available on 12 different Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models, including the Ford Focus, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKS—will be available across the company’s lineup by 2011.
Money has been tight for automakers, to say the least. Toyota Motor announced earlier this week that it will halt production at its 12
Sync includes a flash memory-based system and lets motorists operate a number of popular digital devices, including MP3 players and mobile phones, using voice commands or buttons on the steering wheel or radio/navigation console. Ford expects to have one million Sync-equipped vehicles on the road by the third quarter of 2009, Mulally said. The company lists all of the Sync-equipped vehicles on its site.
The next version of Sync, due out this spring, will allow users to get traffic info, directions and other data using voice-recognition software, integrated GPS technology and a driver’s Bluetooth-capable mobile phone. The hope is that higher sales will keep Ford from needing the buyout billions, as Mulally has said his company does not plan to use federal aid.
Sync is a good deal for Ford, according to an analysis by tech research firm iSuppli, which estimates that Sync’s hardware components (excluding Microsoft’s software) cost Ford about $30 to add to each car, Tgdaily.com reported last year. Ford, however, offers Sync as a $395 option, quite a markup.
“We are a car company,” Mulally said Thursday, “but we’re learning to think like an electronics company.”
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4 Comments
Add CommentFord is being smart - and just may survive this mess.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt's about time!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSo Fords big idea to survive the recession is to turn their cars into very large iPods. And no mention about well made, environmentally friendly cars that are cheap to run. Well that is an interesting strategy!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI view it as Fords plan is to provide state of the art electronics and software as part of a package. They are well ahead of most companies in the environmental front. The new Fusion hybrid is the size of my Altima hybrid and it gets 6 more miles per gallon and the same horse power. That puts Ford significantly ahead of Nissan and Toyota Camry. This news release seems to be one more part of a complete well thought out plan.
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