Ford CEO Personally Delivers 1 Millionth SYNC Equipped Vehicle

Alan Mulally hands over the keys to a SYNC equipped 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

From tailfins to connectivity

You’ve come a long way, baby. Here at LotPro.com, we can remember when it used to be all about tailfins. Back in the 60’s, car manufacturers – at least here in the U.S. – raced each other to see who could come out with the most outlandish tailfin design (in the end, it had to be the ’59 Cadillac). But in the new millennium, the latest consumer hot button seems to be all about affordable vehicle connectivity.

In a move that seems to have been every bit as prescient as hocking Ford up to its eyeballs as he did in 2006, CEO Alan Mulally formed a partnership with Microsoft that same year and announced that the new technology, called SYNC, would become available in 12 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models later that year.

More importantly, the decision was made to make the technology affordable ($395 as a stand-alone option and included at no cost on some trim levels – even in the Ford Focus) and to make it available across the entire vehicle lineup, not just the company’s luxury brands (its first production application was, in fact, in the Focus).

The payoff

Both decisions seem to have worked out brilliantly. In a world in which most automakers charge $1,000 or more for their infotainment systems, SYNC, which offers voice-activated, hands-free calling, audible text messages, calling features such as conference calling and call waiting, voice-activated music, voice recognition, ring tone support, phonebook transfer and a multilingual interface, is certainly a relative bargain. Since the system was introduced, Ford has sold many vehicles based, all or in part, on the fact that they were equipped with SYNC.

One particular advantage of a software-based system like SYNC is the ability to expand its applications. 2008 saw two application upgrades, Vehicle Health Report and 911 Assist™ while a new application, Traffic, Directions and Information, will be available this summer.

One million and counting

Since its introduction, SYNC has become synonymous with Ford. According to the company, more than 80 percent of the vehicles it sells in North America are equipped with the system.

Ford recently announced that it had delivered the 1 millionth SYNC equipped vehicle, a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid (coincidence? I think not) to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Not only that, but the guy who schlepped the vehicle to Microsoft headquarters was none other than Ford CEO Alan Mulally (such a deal).

“We have made a commitment to deliver the vehicles that people really want and value,” Mulally said. “The success of SYNC is another proof point that we are doing just that. We will continue to innovate and expand the capability of SYNC by integrating even more new technologies that fit our customers’ lifestyles.”

Heute, Amerika, morgen die Welt (today America, tomorrow, the world)

So where does Ford go from here? “Working with Microsoft and other key technology partners, we’ve made Ford the connectivity leader in the auto industry,” said Jim Buczkowski, director of electrical and electronic systems. “We do not plan to stand still; we have several additional developments in the pipeline, including launching SYNC in Europe and around the world.”

Tags: 2010 ford fusion hybrid, alan mulally, cadillac, focus, Ford, ford focus, Ford Fusion, fusion hybrid, hybrid, microsoft, steve ballmer, sync