Cars with built-in internet offer several advantages. Also and especially in commercial vehicle fleets. Ford has some plans for this.
The increasing networking of cars not only ensures better real-time congestion forecasts or a faster flow of information in emergencies. In the future, it should also enable users of commercial vehicles to optimally utilize their fleets and reduce downtimes. At least that is what Ford promises for its newly launched service package FordLiive, which is now to be gradually introduced into European markets exclusively for the vans of the Transit family.
The free service package is available to Ford commercial vehicles that have the FordPass Connect modem, which was introduced in 2019. There are currently around 500.000 cars in Europe. According to Ford, their number is expected to double by the middle of next year. If the technology is on board and the vehicle participates in the FordLiive program, real-time vehicle data is available to the car manufacturer and the responsible dealer network, which can be used to proactively avoid breakdowns or shorten downtimes to let. Ford predicts a decrease in downtime by up to 60 percent.
The company describes the Liive program as a 360-degree approach that is based on three building blocks. The first is called Smart Maintenance. The focus here is on the real-time data of the vehicles and their analysis. If there are any problems that could potentially lead to downtime, the user is alerted. Whether the level of Adblue, the tire air pressure or the condition of wearing parts - if there is a need for action, an appropriate exchange of information provides a remedy. This predictive maintenance analysis alone should reduce downtimes by 30 percent.
The second component is called Service Pro, which uses data from the diagnostic system from the last 60 days. With this information, the responsible Ford dealer can prepare a service, organize the parts order more tightly and, if necessary, order replacements in express mode. The owner can also see in real time via his corresponding app or his fleet management system how the work on the vehicle is progressing.
The third component are the so-called FordLiive centers, of which there will initially be three in Cologne and Valencia as well as near London. The teams there are supposed to support dealers in finding the best possible solution, which should lead to faster repairs and thus availability of the company vehicle in more complicated cases.
