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Ford Pilots Employee Shuttle Service in Dearborn

Ford Motor Co. has launched a “dynamic shuttle” pilot program that allows employees to schedule rides between buildings throughout the company’s Dearborn, Mich., operations online or via a new smartphone application.
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Ford Motor Co. has launched a “dynamic shuttle” pilot program that allows employees to schedule rides between buildings throughout the company’s Dearborn, Mich., operations online or via a new smartphone application.

The program features four specially equipped Ford Transit vans that can carry as many as eight passengers each. Amenities include wi-fi, USB charging capability and increased storage space.

When a ride request is made, Ford-developed software determines the best shuttle for the job without extending the travel time of riders already on board. Riders are sent a proposed pick-up time and estimated duration of the trip, which the requester can accept or decline. If accepted, the request—and revised route information—is dispatched to the corresponding shuttle driver’s navigation interface.

Ford hopes to eventually expand the ride-hailing service to other global facilities and possibly to the general population in select markets. To this end, the company is studying how consumer attitudes and needs vary from region to region. 

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