Ford drops price of SYNC by $100

 

Ford is making hands-free, voice-controlled in-car
connectivity even more affordable, announcing both a $100 price drop for Ford
SYNC along with expanded availability by offering it as an option on base trim
levels for the first time.  

 

“Ford SYNC is making a difference. Our customers
love it and recommend it, and our dealers want it on more products,” said
Ken Czubay, vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford

 

“SYNC already has brought hands-free,
voice-activated in-car connectivity to millions, helping keep drivers’ eyes on
the road and hands on the wheel. Now, Ford is making it even easier for
customers to afford exactly what they want,” Czubay added.

 

The move marks the company’s latest push to make voice
control the primary and safest way for customers to access their favorite
mobile devices while driving – a capability more and more drivers are clamoring
for, according to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

 

In a 2010 study, the CEA found that 55 percent of
smartphone owners, for example, prefer voice commands as their primary in-car
user interface. SYNC users agree, with internal Ford research showing more than
85 percent say they use voice controls while driving, up from 60 percent in
previous studies.  

 

This month, Ford became the first
automaker to openly support the Safe Drivers Act of 2011, proposed federal
legislation for a nationwide ban on the use of hand-held mobile devices while
driving.

 

To date, 10 states, including California and New York,
have legally banned talking on a hand-held cellphone while driving, with many
local municipalities also following suit enacting their own set of
restrictions. Text messaging while driving is banned in 34 states.  

 

The new SYNC pricing and choice strategy for 2012 ups the
ante on how Ford is translating this trend into real-world actions that offer
smarter in-vehicle connectivity solutions for customers.

 

As the list of states banning hand-held calls and
texting while driving continues to grow and legislators ponder a nationwide
ban, Ford is strengthening its leadership position as the only full-line
automaker with plans to offer available hands-free mobile device connectivity
on 100 percent of its passenger vehicle lineup.

 

 

 

 

With the base SYNC package, customers will enjoy the core
hands-free features and services that have quickly established SYNC as a
must-have technology, with more than 76 percent of current SYNC users saying
they would recommend the system to other customers.  

 

In addition, customers who choose the base package will
have the option to purchase a SYNC Services subscription, which expands
voice-controlled features to include a cloud-based network of services.

 

These include turn-by-turn directions, traffic reports,
and business search information with available live operator assistance if
needed. A SYNC Services subscription costs only $60 a year, besting the
telematics services offered by the competition.

 

On Edge and Explorer alone, SYNC has already been a big
hit on the showroom floor, with current take rates above 80 percent. With the
new pricing strategy, SYNC is now expected to be installed on more than 95
percent of models sold.

 

During the next three years, Ford will introduce the new
SYNC pricing and choice strategy across the entire North American Ford vehicle
lineup.

 

By Telecomlead.com Team
[email protected]