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Jim Hackett and Sarah-Jayne Williams Open Ford Smart Mobility Innovation Office in London

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Jim Hackett and Sarah-Jayne Williams London

Ford CEO Jim Hackett is in the midst of his inaugural tour of Europe as the head of the automaker, and on Wednesday he was on-hand for the opening of the Ford Smart Mobility Innovation Office in London. The office will facilitate the work of Ford’s European Smart Mobility Unit, which is headed up by newly-appointed director Sarah-Jayne Williams.

The Ford Smart Mobility Innovation Office is found on the campus of Here East, considered the creative hub of London and home to Ford research partner Loughborough University. Here East is also home to the Advanced Propulsion Center, which was vital in the development and production of the recently unveiled Ford Transit Custom Plug-In Hybrid. Ford is set to begin trial operations for the Transit PHEV later this year, and the establishment of the new officer provides Williams and her team better access to that and other projects.


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“London is not only one of Europe’s biggest mega-cities, it is also one of the most progressive in its openness to new ideas and new partners, as we work together to create smart vehicles for a smart world,” said Hackett. “Here East is the perfect location for Ford’s European smart mobility hub with Plexal’s incredible talent pool and start-up diversity right on the doorstep.”

The new Smart Mobility Innovation Office is the third of its kind, joining facilities in Dearborn and Palo Alto. It will also facilitate collaboration with Ford’s Research and Innovation Center in Aachen, which Hackett paid a visit to earlier in the week.


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