As its vehicles gain more connected features, Ford is setting out how it says it handles customer data. The company has introduced a "privacy promise" and a new website explaining what information it collects, why it uses it, and how owners can manage their sharing preferences.
Clearer choices for drivers
Ford says the initiative is intended to make existing privacy controls easier to understand. Customers can choose whether to share certain data, though switching off connected services may also disable features such as real-time navigation and built-in roadside assistance.
The automaker says vehicle information can support services such as alerts about a car's condition and help inform research and development. Ford also says it does not use customer data for targeted advertising or share information about individual driving habits with data brokers.
The effort comes as automakers add more digital services to vehicles, making transparency and understandable settings increasingly important to drivers. Ford's new website aims to explain the trade-offs so customers can make informed decisions about which features to use.
As connected vehicles become more common, clear data choices could help make privacy an integral part of the driver experience.
