Ford Brings Autonomous & Electric Vehicle Business to Corktown

WESTLAND, Mich.,––Ford, one of Detroit's Big Three, has been a leader in the autonomous and mobility space for a while now and has played a large role in the growth of electric vehicles in the market. Ford is bringing its ultimate mission of improving the entire transportation system and people's overall quality of life to an up and coming neighborhood in Detroit. Ford is relocating their autonomous and electric vehicle business to Corktown.

220+ employees from Ford's key business and strategy teams, who work on autonomous and electric vehicle business, will soon be working in a 45,000 sq. ft. historic building they call "The Factory". Ford has chose Corktown for relocation in hopes of creating new business in a resurgent, diverse neighborhood with industrial roots. Not to mention, the pure urban setting will serve as a perfect test platform for the mobility solutions these teams will be working towards.

Beginning early next year, these teams will be studying and experiencing the mobility-based challenges Detroiters face each and every day. Some of the challenges these teams want to find solutions for include: pollution, congestion, accidents, and other issues with transportation that have an effect on the quality of life of citizens.

For Executive Chairman, Bill Ford, this relocation means something more to him. Long ago, his family emigrated from County Cork Ireland to what is now known as the Corktown neighborhood in Detroit, appropriately named by the Irish immigrants. For the company, this relocation means a deeper commitment to where the company first got its start. Further, this move Corktown will hopefully bring some new life to the area.

“Returning to Detroit is particularly meaningful, because it is where my great-grandfather originally set out to pursue his passion and where we have always called our home,” said Ford. “We are planting a special piece of our company’s future in one of the city’s great neighborhoods, because we believe in Detroit, its people and what we can build together.”

By having these key strategic teams together in a truly collaborative space in a flourishing neighborhood where within the answers to their work lie, we expect big moves in the autonomous, electric vehicle, and mobility industry from Ford! We congratulate them on their most recent business move to a neighborhood in our beloved city and look forward to their accomplishments in the New Year. 

If you're looking to get in on Ford's latest and greatest consumer products, we'd love to show you what's available at North Brothers Ford. Included with many new Ford vehicles is the FordPass app which can help solve some of your current mobility issues like parking in the city, as well as advanced driver assistive features, like Adaptive Cruise Control, that provide a glimpse into the future of autonomy. Check out our wide selection of new Ford cars, crossovers, SUVs, and trucks on our website, or visit us at our lot in Westland for a test drive! 

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 855-739-2023, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

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BraunAbility to Make Ford Explorer First Wheelchair-Accessible SUV

WESTLAND, Mich.– There couldn’t be a better way to mark the 25^th year of the Americans with Disabilities Act than for BraunAbility to make the Ford Explorer the first wheelchair-accessible SUV.

BraunAbility, a world leader in the mobility business, will produce a wheelchair accessible vehicle, the MXV, on the foundation of the Ford Explorer. The MXV will provide convenience to wheelchair users as well as many of the great features included in Ford’s best-selling sport utility vehicle, making it the ultimate wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

Starting Aug. 4, BraunAbility will manufacture the MXV in its 170,000-square-foot facility in Winamac, IN, and by the early fall you’ll be able to purchase the MXV at over 200 U.S. BraunAbility mobility dealers.

BraunAbility unveiled the MXV concept vehicle earlier this year in Daytona, Florida, and promised the first production MXV would be donated to wounded veteran and United States Marine Mike Delancey, who was paralyzed by a sniper’s bullet while serving in Iraq in 2006. Don't you think it’s exciting that Ford gets to play a huge part in improving the mobility of men and women like Delancey?

Plans for BraunAbility to make the Ford Explorer the first wheelchair-accessible SUV means the MXV will come packed with technology from both companies. In regards to wheelchair accessibility, the MXV will include

• Patented sliding-door technology
• Removable driver and passenger seats
• A powered and lighted in-floor ramp
• Plenty of maneuvering space for wheelchairs 

By using the Ford Explorer as the foundation of the MXV, the wheelchair-accessible SUV will also provide impressive performance features, including like a 3.5-liter V6 engine; an EPA-estimated rating of 17 miles per gallon city, 24 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined; and a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

You don’t normally see wheelchair-accessible vehicles that look and perform like a quality sport utility vehicle such as the Ford Explorer, but evidently that’s about to change. When it comes down to it, you know BraunAbility chose the Ford Explorer as the base for its MXV because it’s a well-known fact that Ford makes quality vehicles. Come test drive the New Ford Cars and New Ford Trucks at our Garden City area Ford dealer and you’ll understand!

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by, or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

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