Ford, Alibaba Sign Letter of Intent for Three-Year Collaborative Agreement
Ford on Thursday confirmed a three-year agreement with Alibaba Group that will see the two titans “identify new opportunities to redefine consumer retail experiences and explore solutions for sustainable mobility.”
Ford CEO Jim Hackett and Alibaba Group CEO Daniel Zhang were on hand for the signing of the Letter of Intent between their respective companies. Ford China Chairman and CEO Jason Luo and President of Alibaba Senior Vice President Simon Hu signed the document, which bonds Ford and Alibaba in a three-year deal that will see the automaker working with the AliOS, Alibaba Cloud, Alimama, and Tmall business units.
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“China is one of the world’s largest and most dynamic digital markets, thriving on innovation with customers’ online and offline experiences converging rapidly. Collaborating with leading technology players builds on our vision for smart vehicles in a smart world to reimagine and revolutionize consumers’ mobility experiences,’’ said Jim Hackett, Ford’s President and CEO.
“Alibaba is excited to redefine the consumer journey and user experience for automobiles together with Ford Motors,” said Alibaba Group Chief Executive Officer Daniel Zhang. “Our data-driven technology and platform will expand the definition of car ownership beyond just having a mode of transportation and into a new medium for smart lifestyle.”
Ford and Alibaba intend to cooperate with regards to mobility services, connectivity, cloud computing, AI, and digital marketing. It will also conduct a pilot study for new retail opportunities, which is consistent with Wednesday’s report that the partnership will ultimately result in Ford selling its vehicles direct to consumers through Alibaba’s Tmall retail site.
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