Ford plans to offer mobility start-ups from across Europe, Israel, and Turkey the chance to win a share of €30,000 (£27,296) to develop their ideas and collaborate with Ford.
The carmaker will launch the scheme at its Make It Driveable Applink Event in Paris, 25-26 October. The event will mark the finale of an eight-city tour by Ford Connected Vehicle and Services team which saw it make nine stops to meet with start-ups and developers.
The scheme is based on SYNC AppLink, a Ford system that allows drivers to use voice-control smartphone apps. More than seven million Ford vehicles with AppLink enabled are on the road.
The start-ups selected from Ford’s earlier events will have the opportunity to test their apps using the carmaker’s hardware, enter one-to-one mentoring sessions, have access to customer focus groups and work with Ford engineers to develop their concepts further.
Scott Lyons, business and partner development, connected vehicles and services, Ford of Europe, said: “From making money on deliveries and saving money on insurance, to offering fleets a way to communicate with their drivers, developers are bursting with ideas to help drivers get the most from apps while in their cars.
“We want to foster that creativity, using Ford’s expertise to help developers create new ways to revolutionise mobility.”
The winners of the Ford scheme will be announced in Paris on 26 October.
