Ford unveiled a "privacy promise" on Monday, describing it as an "explicit commitment" to keep customers' vehicle data safe and give them control over what they share. The company also launched a website that explains how, where, and why it uses customer data, and shows drivers how to change their settings.
Ford's chief privacy officer, Kristin Jones, told TechCrunch that the company wants to be clear with customers about its data practices. "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," she said.
Jones said the controls have existed for years, and Ford wants to communicate them more clearly ahead of new, more connected vehicles built on its upcoming "universal electric vehicle" platform. She said Ford's survey of 1,000 consumers found that 91% considered data privacy a key consideration.
According to the report, turning off "connected services" disables features such as real-time navigation and built-in roadside assistance. Jones said Ford uses vehicle health data to give owners maintenance information and to "support research and development for future technologies." She also said Ford does not share information about how customers drive their vehicles with data brokers, and that the company is not trying to monetize data.
The report notes that a 2025 settlement involving General Motors, which resulted in a $220 million payment to 36 states, followed GM's sale of driving data to third parties. Ford did not comment on GM or other competitors, according to the report.