Ford has opened a new office in London to target the near-term development of smart mobility technologies in Europe.
The new Smart Mobility Innovation Office includes a dedicated team of Ford specialists led by smart mobility director Sarah-Jayne Williams, and is based at the Here East campus in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Hackney, east London.
Already home to the post-graduate campus of Loughborough University, one of Ford’s longest-standing and most significant UK university research partners, as well as the Advanced Propulsion Centre, which has supported Ford’s powertrain research, including this year’s plug-in hybrid Transit development, the new facility joins Ford’s existing smart mobility offices in Dearborn and Palo Alto, and also complements the company’s global network of research and innovation centres.
Having an office in London also means Ford is in close proximity to its projects and partners, including the plug-in hybrid Transit trial due to launch later this year.
“London is not only one of Europe’s biggest mega-cities, it is also one of the most progressive in its openness to new ideas and new partners, as we work together to create smart vehicles for a smart world,” said Ford president and CEO Jim Hackett. “Here East is the perfect location for Ford’s European smart mobility hub, with Plexal’s incredible talent pool and start-up diversity right on the doorstep.”
