Ford Wants to Hear Your Ideas for Future Vehicles
Ford Wants to Hear Your Ideas for Future Vehicles
Ford is striving to develop new cars and trucks based on what consumers want. In order to gather thoughts and ideas from Ford owners and the general public, they developed a section of TheFordStory.com called "Your Ideas." Since the page's launch in April of 2010, there have been several thousand ideas posted, which users can rate and comment on. Ideas range from new safety features, to connectivity, to ideas for greener automobiles.
So what happens to these ideas posted? Are any of these ideas going to be implemented on new Ford cars and trucks rolling off assembly lines next year? The Global Vehicle Marketing Strategy Group has a team of individuals working for Ford who review those ideas posted and make recommendations on which ones should be implemented. Rick Novak, who heads up this team, explains there are certain things they look for when reviewing all of these consumer ideas.
One aspect of the ideas forum that Novak says has a big impact is the fact that people can comment on the ideas posted, vote for the ones they like, and discuss the pros and cons of each. Reading through threads of discussion shows whether most people who came across that idea agree with it, and also if anyone has realized any issues they can foresee occurring.
For example, one discussion thread was started by someone saying that U.S. vehicles should have rear fog lights like they do in England. While some people agreed this would greatly improve visibility in bad weather, more than one respondent mentioned that many U.S. drivers are not considerate when using high beams (leaving them on when there is on-coming traffic, flashing them at drivers in order to get them to drive faster, etc.), so therefore, many drivers would probably also abuse the privilege of having rear fog lights. This is something Ford could take into consideration do more people feel this is a viable and necessary safety option, or will it just be a distraction to other drivers?
Another popular topic currently being discussed is by those who would like to see Diesel engines on U.S. cars and trucks. Many are weighing in with the benefits of using diesel, and how they would gladly buy a diesel-run vehicle if it was available on the U.S. market. Due to this discussion and a current interest in fuel economy, it is likely Ford may develop diesel-run vehicles in the near future.
So what current features on Ford cars have come from consumer ideas? Ford SYNC is one product inspired by listening to what consumers want a way to have their iPod and phone work through their vehicle. Also inspired by consumers is MyKey keyless entry, capless fuel-filler system EasyFuel, and the Blind Spot Mirror.
Do you have an idea for a product or feature and would like to contribute to the discussions? You can find the website at thefordstory.com/your-ideas and create an account by clicking on the "Sign In" button. Once you've created an account, you can submit your ideas to the appropriate categories, and comment on the ideas of others.
Out of the thousands of ideas posted, what can you do to make your idea stand out and be heard? Rick Novak suggests a good way to get your idea noticed is to explain how a new feature will enhance your driving experience, and be as specific as possible. Is there something missing from your current driving experience that isn't available on the market currently? And you don't necessarily need to come up with the solution. Addressing a want or need, such as "I would like to see more voice command options," will suffice.
Ford is always striving to build a better vehicle and service their customer's needs. With "Your Ideas," your voice is being heard. And who knows? Maybe your idea will soon be implemented on future vehicles.
8 Ford Car Maintenance Tips for Women Caribbean All Inclusive Vacation Fun Toyota Affordability Calculator Which Employed Cars and trucks to avoid Model Railroad Layout Design - The Basics Services Of Search Engine Marketing Denver The Best Engineering Guide WoW Gps Vehicle Tracking Making Margins Look Festive All Over The Country Search Engine Marketing Services Modes of Travel For Vacation Vacationing in Comfort Search Engine Marketing Colorado Agency Always Choose Affordable SEO Services