The auto industry is on the cusp of a huge transformation, with self-driving cars and ride-hailing services fundamentally changing the way society moves.
Jim Hackett’s job is to find a place in this future for Ford Motor Co. And help shape it.
In May, Ford tapped Hackett as the storied company’s new CEO. The former top executive of the Steelcase office furniture business, Hackett joined Ford’s board of directors in 2013 and last year became chairman of Ford Smart Mobility, a subsidiary focused on business models that don’t revolve solely around building and selling cars.
Ford Smart Mobility purchased San Francisco shuttle service Chariot in September, pointing to at least one of the ideas Ford was willing to pursue. Ford also will invest $1 billion over the next five years in Argo AI, a self-driving startup.
On Thursday, Ford sponsored the City of Tomorrow symposium at San Francisco’s Fort Mason, focused on how new modes of transportation could mold the growth of cities, and vice versa. The Chronicle spoke with Hackett, 62, about how a century-old automaker can thrive in a world of robot taxis. The interview has been edited for space and clarity.
To read more of the original article, go to SF Gate.
