August In America – Heading Out on the Road

There is no better way to see America than from behind the wheel. I first learned that on family trips as a kid. Seeing the ever-changing landscape and the differences of people and places across our vast nation was a touchstone of youth.

As a teenager I drove across the country in a Mustang I bought for a few hundred dollars and fixed up. Early in my career, I spent nearly a year on the road for Toyota. The insights from that trip helped us make Camry one of the most popular vehicles in America. Hitting the road isn't just about getting somewhere. It's almost always about what you learn along the way.

So, a few of us are setting off this week across the American West in an F-150 Lightning to go and see researchers, businesses, dealers, salespeople, EV conversion shops, EV drivers and communities. There are things you can’t learn in an office or from a PowerPoint.

We’ll start our journey in Silicon Valley, the cradle of the digital revolution, and drive south to LA and its vibrant car culture. We’ll roll along Route 66, the kitschy trail that once was the Mother Road that gave millions a path west. We’ll hang a left and head for Las Vegas, the glimmering desert oasis that could only happen in America.

We'll use the roads and charging stations that millions of EV drivers are using to power their lives in this new world -- and even return to the charging station we visited last year that invited our Tesla deal.

We’ll stop to share experiences as we navigate from the Bay Area to the Mojave Desert, crossing parts of the country that shattered temperature records this year. It's impossible to travel now and overlook weather-related contingencies, which makes our electric transition more urgent.

Long hauling in an electric truck is an act of pioneerism, not because it's hard or dangerous, but because it's a new way to experience America. Shifting from fueling stations to charging stations requires new behaviors and opens new possibilities. Thanks to the technology in the Lightning, I’ll be able to get work done from the road, just like so many of our customers do every day.

From EVs to AI, we’re living at the dawn of a new digital age that can leave us oscillating from unmoored to exhilarated, moment to moment. With this new era upon us, we're preparing Ford Motor Company to once again be at the forefront.

Ford was built on the idea that everyone should have opportunities to move forward and upward. We learned long ago that happiness is often found in the pursuit, and we pride ourselves on being a family company that millions trust to serve them as they pursue their dreams.

Listening is how we learn, and that's what we'll be doing from the road. With an eye on the horizon and an ear to the ground, we embrace the call of the open road to reconnect with what matters most.

I hope to see you out there.

Jim