Ford launches Pro AI for multibillion-dollar commercial business

DETROIT — Ford Motor is launching a new artificial intelligence system for its Pro commercial vehicle business as it tries to grow the unit’s profits and software revenue.

The Detroit automaker on Tuesday said the new “Ford Pro AI” can monitor and analyze more than 1 billion data points daily from connected commercial vehicles — from seatbelt use to vehicle health, route optimization and fuel consumption. 

The goal is to equip its 840,000 paid commercial subscribers with tools to increase efficiency and profits and reduce vehicle downtimes by allowing them to more easily analyze their businesses and operations, according to Ford. The automaker reporting growing its Pro subscribers by 30% last year.

“Helping them maximize their vehicles’ uptime, increase productivity, and lower costs isn’t just good business — it’s essential for all of us,” said Kevin Dunbar, general manager for Ford Pro Intelligence, during a media briefing. “Our team is helping build the future of fleet operations.”

Ford Pro’s fleet business includes sales to commercial, government and rental customers as well as its Super Duty large truck business.

Ford CEO Jim Farley last month said diversifying Pro’s revenue — specifically in software — is a crucial growth area for the company. He said Ford’s software and physical services, such as its mobile service and maintenance, are “rapidly approaching” a 20% target for Pro’s earnings.

The new AI offering will be included with Ford’s telematics subscribers, which have helped the company grow and diversify its revenue. Ford Pro last year reported $66 billion in revenue and $6.8 billion in earnings, with a 10.3% profit margin.

The system is launching as a prompted, read-only format but Ford will continue to look at expanding its capabilities to meet customers’ needs, Dunbar said. Pro AI is built off Google Cloud using proprietary data from the automaker, according to Ford.