Like many automakers these days, Ford harbors grand ambitions for transforming itself from a traditional car company into a global mobility provider. The company?s leaders laid the groundwork for that evolution last year by creating a subsidiary, Ford Smart Mobility, to house its future-minded transportation ventures. On Monday, they took further steps toward that goal, announcing they will expand Chariot, the centerpiece of those early efforts, to six new cities by the end of 2017.
Chariot currently operates in San Francisco and Austin, Texas. The new markets for the ride-sharing shuttle service will include five in the United States and one in a foreign country. Ford wasn?t saying where the new outposts are to be located, but operations are expected to begin in the first of the new cities within weeks.
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?It?s an exciting business for us, because you?ll see over time those blurred lines between business-to-business and business-to-consumer services.?

? Ali Vahabzadeh, Chariot founder and CEO

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In determining which markets are next in line for services, Ali Vahabzadeh, founder and CEO of Chariot, says one of the key factors is whether the cities have expressed interest in bringing the 14-passenger shuttles, which passengers hail via apps, to their streets.
?There?s a big difference between standing idle and watching us do it and actually being our cheerleader,? he said, noting engaged cities can help fast-track licensing and permit requirements.
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