Ford and Google Team Up to Create F-150 Lighting AR Experience

The Ford F-150 Lightning has been dominating the discussion of electric vehicles in recent months as the first electrified F-series truck and one of the most anticipated new electric vehicles, with over 160,000 reservations for the truck taken so far. 79% of reservation holders stated in a survey taken over the summer that the F-150 Lightning will be the first battery-electric vehicle in their household, and 56% say this will be their first time ever owning a Ford Vehicle. With the reservation process making it difficult for customers to experience the vehicle the same way they might be able to in person, it seems that educational tools are in order. Ahead of the official release in spring 2022, Ford has partnered with Google in order to create an augmented reality experience for reservation holders, enthusiasts, and shoppers to get a more immersive taste of the revolutionary vehicle: the “F-150™: Strike Anywhere” visual experience.

“Americans have trusted Ford trucks for years and now they are trusting F-150 to be their first battery-electric vehicle,” said Darren Palmer, general manager, Ford battery-electric vehicles. “It’s our job to continue engaging them and answering their questions about what the ownership experience will be like – which I guarantee is like nothing they’ve ever had before.”

F-150 Lightning™: Strike Anywhere is a 3D augmented reality experience powered by Google Cloud that uses a smartphone to provide information and visuals on the F-150 Lightning. Thirteen interactive animations teach users about features, functions, and services of the F-150 Lightning, including battery range, interior connectivity, smart bed and towing capabilities, charging solutions, and more. Users can also customize the image of the truck with colors and trim packages and use the AR functions to place the truck anywhere they like, such as their driveway to their jobsite. The F-150 Lightning™: Strike Anywhere experience is available on Android and iOS in the United States, as well as Ford.com, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat and Reddit.

“We’re proud to work with Ford to bring this innovative experience to life,” said Thomais Zaremba, Industry Director, Automotive, Google. “Ford continues to meet customers where they are – and that’s increasingly online. This campaign brings the F-150 Lightning to life in a new way, and serves as a natural extension of our broader collaboration to help transform Ford’s business and deliver new customer experiences.”

With electric vehicles becoming more and more prevalent to the mainstream market, many shoppers will be considering them as viable options for the first time, and tools like F-150 Lightning™: Strike Anywhere will be instrumental in demonstrating the benefits of electric vehicles to potential converts, helping to make Ford and the world at large cleaner and more energy efficient.