Ford Launches Unit to Pursue Emerging Mobility Services

Ford Motor Co. is combining its activities related to the pursuit of alternative personal mobility options in a new subsidiary called Ford Smart Mobility LLC.

The company, which will assemble a staff from within and outside Ford, will act as a start-up to develop commercially ready mobility services. Ford says the unit also will make investments in mobility-related ventures.

Smart Mobility will be headed by Jim Hackett, who resigned from the Ford board on March 10 to chair the new unit. He had served on Ford’s sustainability and innovation committee. Hackett retired as CEO of furniture maker Steelcase Inc. in early 2014 and has served as interim athletic director at the University of Michigan between October 2014 and today.

In his new role, Hackett will report to Ford CEO Mark Fields, who praises Hackett’s vision and experience in business development and design.