Laura Merling to lead the commercialization of high volume fully autonomous vehicles as part of Ford Smart Mobility LLC.

Ford Motor Company has appointment Laura Merling as vice president of Autonomous Vehicles Solutions for Ford Smart Mobility LLC, Ford’s subsidiary working to design, build, grow and invest in emerging mobility services. Merling will report to Jim Hackett, Ford Smart Mobility LLC chairman, and be based in Palo Alto, California.

“While Ford’s technical teams invent and further develop the technology of autonomous vehicles, we need to invent and develop the commercialization strategy to connect this technology with the uses and users that will truly change the way the world moves,” said Jim Hackett, Ford Smart Mobility LLC chairman. “Laura has deep experience innovating strategy and platform development for both start up and corporate organizations. She also brings a significant external network through her Internet of Things consultancy and start up board advisory roles.”