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Ford CEO Predicts 1,000% Growth for In-Car Software Services

  • Existing business has ‘very healthy margins,’ Farley says
  • Company hires former Apple executive to run new division

Ford Explorer electric SUV.

Photographer: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
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Ford Motor Co. sees revenue from in-car software services, like its hands-free driving feature, surging by 1,000% over the next few years.

To harness that growth, the automaker on Monday said it hired Peter Stern, the former vice president of services for Apple Inc., to run a newly created technology-focused unitBloomberg Terminal. Stern is tasked with growing Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driving system, as well as developing other in-car services to sell to millions of owners.