Ford Makes a 'Privacy Promise' Ahead of EV Platform Launch
Original: Ford launches a ‘privacy promise’ and explains how and why it uses customer data
Why This Matters
Auto data privacy is now a competitive differentiator, not just a compliance checkbox.
Ford unveiled a 'privacy promise' on Nov. 2, 2026, pledging to protect vehicle data and give customers control over sharing, ahead of its new universal electric vehicle platform rollout.
Ford's new privacy push includes a public commitment and a dedicated website explaining how the automaker collects, uses, and shares vehicle data — and how customers can change those settings. The controls themselves are not new, but Ford wants to surface them more clearly ahead of connected vehicles built on its upcoming 'universal electric vehicle' platform.
Chief Privacy Officer Kristin Jones, who joined Ford in 2024 after nearly two decades in privacy law across financial and healthcare sectors, told TechCrunch: 'I personally think that it's super important for us to be making it very clear to our customers what our data practices are, and not only that, but making a commitment to them about it.'
The announcement lands in a charged moment. General Motors recently reached a $220 million settlement with 36 states over quietly selling customer data to third parties — a deal the FTC also pursued. Meanwhile, Ford's own survey of 1,000 consumers found 91% called data privacy a key consideration, yet only 14% of U.S. drivers say they fully understand what their vehicle collects. EV startup Slate Auto, backed by Jeff Bezos, has already started marketing itself as a privacy-forward alternative ahead of its minimalist pickup truck launch.