Jim Hackett, newly appointed president and CEO of Ford Motors, has listed modernising the motor business by leverage big data, artificial intelligence, advanced robotics and 3D printing as one of his top priorities in his new position.
"We need to use new tools and techniques to release innovation, better speed decision-making and improve efficiency through leveraging big data, artificial intelligence and advanced robotics, among others."
He aims to transform the company to meet future challenges brought on by society's needs and consumer behaviour change, he adds.
Hackett was previously vice-chairman of Steelcase, the international office furniture manufacturer, for nearly two decades, where he was credited with overhauling a traditional furniture manufacturer in the red to a multibillion-dollar industry innovator.
"Hackett is a consumer-focused visionary who helped transform the office furniture company from traditional manufacturer to industry innovator," said the company in a statement.
"Having spent his career focused on the evolving needs of consumers, he is recognised for predicting that the office landscape would shift away from cubicles to an open space environment, giving employees the flexibility to work where they want."
The motor company recently announced it is experimenting with integrating virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in its customer retail experience, with the aim of creating an online space where its cars can be 'test-driven' at any time of the day, anywhere in the world by using AR and VR to layer digital holograms onto the real world.
In February, the company said it will invest $1 billion in Argo AI over the next five years in a bid to develop a virtual driver system for the automaker's autonomous vehicle.
Executive chairman Bill Ford said the company is moving from a position of strength to transform Ford for the future. "Jim Hackett is the right CEO to lead Ford during this transformative period for the auto industry and the broader mobility space."
Hackett has been executive chairman of Ford Smart Mobility since inception in March 2016, and will lead Ford's worldwide operations and 202 000 employees globally with immediate effect.
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