Ford Motor Adapting to New Consumer Trends in 2017

Ford Motor (F) - Get Report  has identified several trends to watch in 2017, and many of them will affect how the company positions itself with consumers. "Ford finds itself at a revolutionary moment," said Sheryl Connelly, the company's in-house trend watcher. She explained how the automaker thinks of itself as a mobility company, trying to find solutions for people to get from point A to point B. One important trend Ford has identified is the concept of time well spent. Connelly says 160 million hours are lost each year in traffic jams during the daily commute, which is why she believes many people are interested in self-driving vehicles. She also says cars are viewed less as "status symbols." What's more important now is simply making journeys easier.