There have been some pretty significant developments for Ford recently. The company announced that it would be investing into Autonomic Inc. The move, while intriguing, is not at all surprising. Ford has been spending quite a bit of time and effort in developing its service technology, so an investment into Autonomic is entirely aligned with the company’s path.
Autonomic Inc. is a young startup in the Silicon Valley that designs complex software. Ford is making the investment in the hopes of using the programs to build the company’s next mobility services. This would allow Ford to offer different modes and styles of transportation. Ford does already provide some services outside of vehicle sales, but integrating Autonomic technology could further develop the programs.
This poses a unique and significant opportunity for Ford. The company is clearly working towards increasing its service opportunities, while also perfecting and standardizing autonomous technology. If they do this, they are in a prime situation to extend their service programs. Instead of purely manufacturing and selling vehicles, Ford will be able to provide transportation services. If the vehicles are equipped with autonomous technology, these transportation services could be the future of the industry.
Whether or not autonomous vehicles are the future of transportation services, it is clear that they will play a part in the automobile industry as a whole. Many companies, including Ford, have completed extensive research and testing on the subject. Ford has even begun testing the social implications that a driverless vehicle has on the general public. Autonomic will help Ford further its mobility services, which may eventually include autonomous transportation.