Ford Motor Firm CEO Jim Farley has wrapped up a three-day street journey throughout the American West in an F-150 Lightning with the objective of studying extra in regards to the experiences of Ford EV clients.
The chief has documented it extensively on social media, particularly on his X (previously Twitter) account. Joined by different Ford execs, Farley began the journey with the F-150 Lightning on August 7 from Silicon Valley, headed south to Los Angeles after which west to Las Vegas, driving on the enduring Route 66 alongside the best way.
In a LinkedIn submit, Ford’s head honcho stated one of many stops could be at a charging station that prompted Ford’s transfer to undertake the Tesla cost port – the North American Charging Customary (NACS) – for future EVs.
“There isn’t any higher approach to see America than from behind the wheel. I first realized that on household journeys as a child,” Farley wrote.
He additionally stated he would use the identical roads and charging infrastructure as bizarre EV drivers in order that he can see what the real-world expertise of EV use is like. Moreover, he was planning to go to “researchers, companies, sellers, salespeople, EV conversion retailers, EV drivers, and communities.”
Curiously, Ford’s CEO famous that earlier in his profession at Toyota, he spent practically a yr on the street the teachings realized throughout that street journey helped him enhance the Camry mid-size sedan. “Listening is how we study, and that is what we’ll be doing from the street,” Farley stated.
From the various updates he posted on social media, we are able to see that Farley has dropped by a Automobiles and Espresso meetup, visited Ford sellers and the corporate’s Greenfield Labs in Palo Alto, and frolicked at numerous charging stations.
He additionally visited a Vestas wind farm to see how they’re utilizing the F-150 Lightning Professional vans of their fleet, and acquired to take a look at a pre-production model of Ford’s BlueCruise software program alongside the best way.
Jim Farley additionally sat down with F-150 Lightning house owners and EV advocates to listen to their views on the electrical future and the way Ford can preserve innovating to enhance its merchandise.
It feels like a enjoyable time away from the workplace and, most significantly, a good way to study extra in regards to the Ford EV buyer’s expertise, whether or not it is charging, driving, and utilizing electrical autos in all kinds of situations.
Within the coming days, Farley will attend a Ford seller assembly in Las Vegas, the ultimate vacation spot of his street journey.