Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for vehicle sharing technology that may be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on September 21st, 2022, published on March 21st, 2024, and assigned serial number 0096141.
The Ford Authority Take
With ride sharing becoming more and more popular, Ford has filed a number of patents aimed at the future of such services recently. That list includes ideas for enhanced contactless vehicle codes, a ride-hailing seat reservation system, and a peer-to-peer vehicle rental system. Now, this new patent filing keeps that trend going by introducing an idea for vehicle sharing technology that may be used in future Ford vehicles, too.
In the case of this particular patent, Ford is looking at ways to make unused vehicles easier to share with others, which is something that a lot of owners are already taking advantage of via services like Turo. Rather than letting vehicles sit around unused, some have found it compelling to rent them out and make a little money on the side. However, this process is relatively complicated in terms of having to share keys, record data, provide insurance data, and clean vehicles after they’ve been used.
As such, this patent presents us with an idea for a vehicle sharing system that would use a code to engage a temporary use mode. The system would be capable of handling pretty much everything involved with this process, from collecting documents to displaying relevant documents and disclosures, set reminders, and even sanitize the cabin. As such, it certainly seems like such a system could eventually see the light of day, given the popularity of ride sharing and vehicle sharing services these days.
We’ll have more on this and all Ford patents soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford patent news, Ford business news, and continuous Ford news coverage.
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