Ford has taken another step towards becoming a more tech-focused car company with the announcement of its FordPass app, which lets users find a parking spot, book and pay for it from their phones.
You don’t need to own a Ford vehicle to use the free service. The company has partnered with ParkWhiz and Parkopedia to help you locate parking in cities and at airports; you can chat with a FordGuide on the phone to find and reserve a spot, and even ask to have your parking time extended if you’re running late.
In partnership with FlightCar, FordPass will also let you book cars when you travel, whether you want to drive yourself or share a ride.
If you own a Ford vehicle, the app lets you do a lot more, like schedule a maintenance appointment or ask to review your car finance account details at your preferred dealer.
If your ride comes with Sync Connect, FordPass will let you remote start, lock or unlock your car through the app. You’ll also be able to check fuel, oil and battery charge levels, tire pressure readings, and locate it on a map.
Using FordPass’ free services will also score you points that you can redeem for merchandise and ‘unique experiences’ from Ford and its partners. McDonald’s and 7-Eleven have already signed on to the program.
The company recently announced that it will bake in support for Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay in its Sync 3 in-dash infotainment systems; it has also partnered with Amazon to let Echo users start their cars from their living room with a voice command.
FordPass will launch this spring in the US and Canada, followed by other markets including Europe, China and Brazil later in the year.
➤ Ford invests in making customer experience as strong as its cars, SUVs, trucks and electrified vehicles with FordPass [Ford News]
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