Customers Benefit From Ford, State Farm Sharing Their Data

There is a lot to be said for sharing data. When you share data, there's another set of eyes on the information. Those eyes can often see things that you or your team miss on the first go-round.

Safety Technology A Prime Example

Let's look at an area like safety as an example. Let's say that a central authority on safety declares technology A and technology B as the most significant safety improvements since hydraulic brakes. In and of itself, this development might be right on the money.

But, let's say the outlet that has partnered with the significant authority says, in effect: "Wait a minute, what about technology C and technology D? You have to take a look at them, as well.

So, the firms look at all four of the technologies, and it turns out the information is correct. Indeed, the four technologies, when taken together, are better together than considered individually.

This is precisely what Ford and State Farm are doing. They are partners, sharing their research vehicle technology and safety systems. The partners are working together to benefit their shared customers.

Partners Complete Year-Long Pilot

The companies have just completed a year-long pilot in which the companies shared vehicle build data to understand better how safety features and how those features impact claims.

The exchange of information has lowered the overall cost of vehicle ownership for many of the companies' shared customers by better matching price to risk. Customers found their insurance rates dipped an average of 20 percent in the first half of 2021.

Ford's new Vehicle Build Data (VBD) product provides State Farm a comprehensive view of a vehicle's feature content and a better understanding of how advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) impact the frequency and severity of auto claims.

State Farm customers with certain Ford, Lincoln, or Mercury products dating back to 2010 can benefit from this data-sharing partnership.

Finding Solutions For The Future

"We're finding solutions for the future by grounding everything in data, research, and insights," State Farm Vice President of Operations Craig Isaacs said.

"What's unique about this project is we're not just looking at the make and model of a vehicle, but ultimately to the individual safety features on each vehicle," Isaacs continued.

"Our new-build data API, piloted with State Farm, is another way we're using data to help our customers get the most out of their Ford, at a lower total cost of ownership," Ford's Digital Insurance Manager, Ford Enterprise Connectivity, Tim Meek said.

Data Go Back More Than A Decade

Meek continued that "what's more, State Farm can access build data back to 2010, which means second and third owners also benefit."

State Farm and Ford's decades-long history of sharing loss experience and technical information help make roads safer for all drivers.

Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971 when an otherwise normal news editor said, "You're our new car editor," and dumped about 27 pounds of auto stuff on my desk. I was in heaven as I have been a gearhead from my early days. As a teen, I spent the usual number of misspent hours hanging out at gas stations Shell and Texaco (a big thing in my youth) and working on cars. From there on, it was a straight line to my first column for the paper, "You Auto Know," an enterprise that I handled faithfully for 32 years. Not too many people know that I also handled computer documentation for a good part of my living while writing YAN. My best writing, though, was always in cars. My work has appeared in venues including Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, etc. You can follow me on: Twitter or Facebook.