Ford eNews - Feb. 22, 2012

DEARBORN, MI--Feb. 22, 2012:

Simulator upgraded to help better develop safety technologies, driver aids

Upgrades to Ford's full-motion virtual test track, VIRTTEX, will help continue to develop and test active safety and driver aid technologies that warn drivers of potentially dangerous scenarios behind the wheel. Upgraded image rendering technologies provide a high-resolution, digitally projected, 360-degree horizontal field-of-view to test and measure driver acceleration, braking and steering performance as well as overall driver reactions in varying conditions. more...

Dan Pierce | dpierc41@ford.com | 313.594.0949

Ford takes OpenXC global

Whether they're in mature automotive markets or growth regions, drivers want to take advantage of increasingly ubiquitous mobile connectivity. At the NASSCOM India Leadership Summit, Ford demonstrated the OpenXC research platform and the potential for open-source application development. Developed by Ford Research and Innovation and New York City-based Bug Labs, OpenXC is designed to unleash the power of local developers to determine niche market-specific applications that take advantage of mobile connectivity. more...

Alan Hall | ahall32@ford.com | 313.594.3744

Ford earns top honors for supporting women-owned businesses

The Women's Business Enterprise Council selected Ford for its 13th annual listing of America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises, the first time an automaker has earned the award. Ford was honored for developing and driving best practices that result in productive business partnerships with women entrepreneurs and valuable products and services for their customers. In 2011, Ford spent $1.06 billion with women-owned suppliers in the U.S., a 22 percent increase from 2010. more...

Todd Nissen | tnissen@ford.com | 313.322.4898