The seventh annual Looking Further with Ford Trends Report reveals how trends are influencing behavioural change across key areas of our lives
Trend Four - Many Faces of Me - With social media playing such a large part in consumers' lives, today many portray various personas- from who they are in real life to how they depict themselves online, which ultimately impacts what they buy, wear and drive, as well as their technology choices. Ford understands that a vehicle is a reflection of a driver's sense of self and as such, the vehicles are designed to speak to an individual's needs while reinforcing and projecting who they are. The all-new 2019 Ford Ranger gives drivers the maneuverability of a mid-size truck to commute to work in the city and also the ruggedness and capability to explore their adventurous side on the weekend.
Trend Five - Life's Work - How we perceive work has changed with many global citizens now working to live, not living to work. Companies are responding in kind: with benefits, sabbaticals and extended leave being offered, as well as opportunities for mental enrichment and more. Ford believes that talent is strengthened when people are encouraged to experience the world around them and give back to the community. The company's 30 under 30 program allows young employees to take paid time away from their jobs to learn about philanthropic organizations and strategize ways to connect them to future donors and volunteers, helping them to make an impact on their communities.
Trend Six - Eco-Momentum - While changing lifelong habits can be hard, consumers overwhelmingly agree that environmental progress will depend on changes in human behavior and many look for guidance on how and where to improve their environmental footprint. Sustainable practices are critical to the health of the environment and to Ford's success. We're also focused on reducing emissions from our vehicles by doing our share to deliver on CO2 reductions consistent with the Paris Climate Accord. We already charted our course for the future to invest in 16 fully electric vehicles within a global portfolio of 40 electrified vehicles through 2022.
Trend Seven - Easy Street - The mobility journey isn't as simple as going from point A to B, it's about what we do with our time along the way. Americans spend more time in their cars than they receive vacation time so the ability to get things done while on the road could change the commute experience as we know it. Ford believes that self-driving vehicles will reduce society's pain points and expand access to transportation and goods delivery. The company is working with companies to understand how goods delivery through the use of self-driving vehicles can be improved. An example of this is a pilot program Ford is conducting with Walmart and Postmates, exploring how self-driving vehicles can complement Walmart's home delivery offerings.
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