Joining the race to secure Israeli automotive technology, the Ford Motor Company opened a new research center in the heart of Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
The Ford Research Center, the company said, will assist its global Research and Advanced Engineering team, and identify local technologies and start-up companies to support Ford’s automotive and mobility businesses.
The company is seeking to identify start-ups in the fields of connectivity, sensors, automated-systems research, in-vehicle monitoring and cybersecurity.
“We recognize the importance of being in one of the world’s leading innovation communities and ecosystems,” said Bill Ford, the executive chairman of the American automotive giant, marking his first visit to Israel. “This new center is not only an expansion of our existing Research and Innovation centers, but provides an opportunity to join a growing innovation community in Israel.”
Michigan-based Ford entered the Israeli market for the first time in August 2016, acquiring Tel Aviv-based computer vision and machine learning company SAIPS to advance its vision for autonomous vehicles. The company invested an additional $12.5 million in SAIPS in November 2018.
Udy Danino, founder and CEO of SAIPS, has been appointed as technical director for the new center.
“Expanding Ford’s presence in Israel with the new Research Center will allow us to engage with the best technology and leading companies a lot faster, and further support Ford’s goals of bringing together our vehicle and technology expertise to create new solutions to meet the mobility challenges of today and tomorrow,” Danino said.
The research center is located in Tel Aviv’s Adgar360 tower, joining the company’s existing network of research centers in cities including Aachen in Germany, Nanjing in China and Dearborn, Michigan.
Henry Ford, where are you?
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