Ford is planning to invest $1.8bn over the next five years in China to boost its research and development efforts in the field of smartphone connectivity, autonomous driving and other smart car features.
China is a major market for automakers and Ford is the fifth-biggest foreign automaker in China after GM, Volkswagen, Hyundai and Nissan.
However, sales of its products have slipped due to tough competition and industry wide weakness, and the company expects that the introduction of smart cars will help its vehicles stand out in Chinese market.
The company is reportedly planning to bring the technology it already developed and used in other markets into China, and the R&D spending is likely to help Ford develop smartcar features specifically tailored for Chinese drivers.
Ford plans to introduce technology that will allow drivers to control more car systems through their smartphones.
The company is also likely to introduce systems where users will be able to make use of mobile chat functions, during traffic jams.
Reuters cited Ford CEO Mark Fields as saying: "By 2020 we will offer customers in China a range of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full electric vehicles.
He also said that the company plans to introduce C-MAX Energi, a plug-in hybrid, and the Mondeo conventional hybrid to the China market next year.
China has been encouraging the use of electric vehicles to tackle the pollution problem in the country and the government is also providing subsidies to buyers of pure electric, highly electrified plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles.
However, the plan is not meeting desired result due to lack of infrastructure, reported Reuters.
