Key facts
- Ford chief privacy officer Kristin Jones said Ford does not share information about how customers drive with data brokers.
- Jones said opting out of some data sharing disables features such as real-time navigation and built-in roadside assistance.
- Ford said vehicle health data supports real-time maintenance information and research and development for future technologies.
- Jones said a Ford survey of 1,000 consumers found 91% called data privacy a key consideration.
- Jones said only 14% of US customers polled fully understand what data their vehicle collects.
- General Motors reached a $220 million settlement with 36 states over selling vehicle data, according to the report.
Ford unveiled on Monday what it calls a "privacy promise," an "explicit commitment" to keep customers' vehicle data safe and give them control over what they share, along with a website explaining what data the automaker collects, how it uses it and how customers can change settings. The company said the push comes ahead of new, more connected vehicles, including those being built on its upcoming "universal electric vehicle" platform.
"I personally think that it's super important for us to be making it very clear to our customers what our data practices are, and not only that, but making a commitment to them about it," Ford chief privacy officer Kristin Jones said in an interview with TechCrunch. "I also see this as a great opportunity to educate our customers about how they share data."
Jones said opting out of sharing some data makes some modern features inaccessible. Turning off "connected services" in a Ford vehicle disables features such as real-time navigation and built-in access to roadside assistance, she said. Giving Ford access to data about a vehicle's health provides an owner with better real-time information about whether the car needs maintenance and also will "support research and development for future technologies," she said.
"We also do not share information about how our customers are driving their vehicles to data brokers," Jones said. "I just want to kind of reiterate that we're not in it to try and monetize data in some way. We're trying to offer products and services that customers derive value from."
Jones said a Ford survey of 1,000 consumers found 91% said data privacy was a key consideration. The report also cited polling showing only 14% of US customers said they fully understand what data their vehicle collects. The report said General Motors reached a $220 million settlement with 36 states last week over selling vehicle data, and that Slate Auto, an EV startup backed by Jeff Bezos, has marketed itself as a better steward of customer data ahead of the expected launch of its minimalist pickup truck later this year.