Ford Motor has decided to relocate its autonomous and electric vehicle business to Detroit, US.
The company is moving its autonomous and electric vehicle business and strategy teams to the recently renovated industrial complex called The Factory in Corktown of Detroit.
Slated to begin operations in early next year, the new 45,000ft² site will allow Ford teams to deal with urban mobility challenges and develop solutions.
Ford autonomous vehicles and electrification vice president Sherif Marakby will serve as head for over 200 team in Corktown.
Ford president and CEO Jim Hackett said: “We’re excited to choose this inspirational location in one of Detroit’s resurgent neighborhoods to accelerate our work on electric and autonomous vehicles.
“This move and our exciting Dearborn campus transformation are important steps as we move toward our aspiration to become the world’s most trusted mobility company – designing smart vehicles for a smart world.”
Under the leadership of Team Edison, Ford is focusing to expand the electric vehicle business with the development of hybrid vehicles and full battery-electric vehicles.
Recently, Ford established an electric vehicle partnership with Zoty to create Zotye Ford Automobile, which is a 50-50 joint venture that will offer a range of advanced electric vehicles for consumers in China.
Ford has invested $1bn in Argo AI to advance the autonomous vehicle development. The partnership will combine Ford’s autonomous vehicle expertise with Argo AI’s robotics knowledge to develop artificial intelligence software
Expected to start production in 2021, Ford’s first autonomous vehicle will be an advanced hybrid-electric vehicle with self-driving capability.
