OREANDA-NEWS. For more than 100 years, Ford as a brand has been closely associated with mobility and providing a means for people to get from one place to another. With urbanization and increasing congestion becoming the norm for billions of people, Ford is working to change how the world moves — again.

On October 12, innovators and thought leaders gathered at the inaugural Ford Innovation for Millions event in Shanghai, the company’s primary brand event in China. During the event, attendees discussed ways to spark innovation and how to make these innovations more accessible.

Ford also used the event as an opportunity to announce that it officially met every commitment the company made in 2010 to grow in China. Ford was successful in doubling its sales, opening seven new manufacturing plants and bringing 15 new vehicles to China by 2015.

Looking toward to future, Ford plans to bring to China improved and expanded in-car connectivity capabilities, develop semi-autonomous vehicle features, and potentially fully autonomous vehicles. By 2016, the company plans to release several advanced new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China, including the Ford C-MAX Energi and a Ford Mondeo hybrid electric vehicle. The development of these NEVs will be an important step for Ford, for consumers looking to lower fuel costs and a solution to the problem of excessive emissions in the region.

To reach these goals of innovation, Ford has committed to invest \\$1.8 billion towards the research and improvement of personal mobility in China. At the Nanjing Research and Engineering Center (REC), the investment will help engineers develop new powertrains, test electronic systems, analyze durability and safety of materials, and improve vehicle manufacturing quality with the latest in 3D scanning technologies. Funds will also help build the Nanjing Test Center, a comprehensive vehicle-testing facility, featuring a full test track equipped with a constant-speed oval, special surfaces, steep grades and a precision steering road.

 “The expansion of the facilities at REC will allow us to continue innovating in China for China, and ensure that China is a center for innovation globally,” said Mark Fields, president and CEO, Ford Motor Company. “At Ford, our goal is to make people’s lives better. As we move into the next five years, we will continue drawing on our heritage of innovation, to deliver accessible innovation to our customers and once again change the way the world moves.”