By Nick Bunkley, Crain News Service
SAN FRANCISCO (June 24, 2015) — Ford Motor Co. is getting into the car-sharing and electric bike businesses as part of CEO Mark Fields' effort to transform the auto maker into a more holistic provider of transportation options.
The company late June 23 announced a pilot car-sharing program that invites 26,000 Ford Motor Credit Co. customers in six U.S. cities and London to offer their vehicles for short-term rentals.
It also unveiled a new battery-powered bike aimed at urban commuters. The bike folds and can be recharged while being stored inside any Ford vehicle.
“My great-grandfather helped put the world on wheels so everyone could enjoy the benefits of mobility,” Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford said in a statement. “Our vision today is to expand that same thinking using advanced technology and new business models, and addressing the mobility challenges people face around the world.”