Ford has been making major strides recently in software-led connected vehicles, artificial intelligence, university research and more, and now they are opening a dedicated space to advance these transformations– the Ford Atlanta Research and Innovation Center, or FARIC.
Ford has other research and development facilities in Tel Aviv and Palo Alto, dedicated to developing automated, connected and electrified vehicles. With this new location in Atlanta, Ford is surrounded by one of the most diverse tech talent markets in the United States, and will be able to bring in software experts from many different backgrounds to help develop and refine the coming generations of Ford vehicles.
“Ford is transitioning from a traditional automotive company to a digital products and services company driven by software innovation,” said Jim Buczkowski, executive director for Ford Research, Advanced Engineering. “There’s a high demand for tech talent across industries, and we have an opportunity to create non-traditional career pathways to attract and develop the expertise needed to stay competitive.”
This is a period of major changes and advancements for Ford, but the company is holding true to its roots, especially in its commitment to developing a workforce that reflects the communities and customers it serves. As the teams at FARIC grow, the goal is to include many team members from historically underrepresented groups, such as Black and Hispanic employees and female employees, especially in the software engineering and high technology fields.
“Atlanta continues to attract and grow tech companies and startups; and we continue to attract a desirable talent base — particularly for Black tech talent. We look forward to this partnership with the Ford Atlanta Research and Innovation Center, which has the potential to help us grow an even more robust and diverse pipeline,” said Mayor Andre Dickens.
Aside from serving as an innovation hub and delivering software solutions, the FARIC team will also focus on increasing Black, Hispanic and female representation in software engineering and high technology careers. Ford will be leveraging relationships with local institutions like nearby Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Service Institutions, and the Atlanta University Center Consortium to help create high-tech career opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.
“Underrepresentation is a significant issue in software and engineering industries, especially when it comes to Black and Hispanic communities, which makes it particularly exciting to work with local colleges, universities and nonprofits to help bring greater diversity into the tech space,” said Doron Elliott, senior manager of Ford In-Vehicle Infotainment, who will oversee FARIC operations. “Building this critical talent base will enable Ford to continue to find innovative and efficient ways to develop cutting-edge products and services to meet the demands of a very diverse customer base.”
These teams of diverse experts at the Ford Atlanta Research and Innovation Center will be working to usher in the next generations of advanced Ford vehicles. If you want to see the high-tech models that Ford is currently producing, take a look at our inventory here!