Cars have become more like brains on wheels. Consumers today want to stay connected and want the drive to be comfortable and less time consuming, especially since the amount of time people spend dealing with traffic jams and commuting to work on a daily basis.

Sheryl Connelly: Futurist Without The Magic Ball

I like to know what makes people tick. That’s one of the reasons I enjoy my job as the global consumer trends and Futuring Manager at Ford U.S. I look outside the automotive industry to understand what’s happening in social, technological, economic, environmental and political arenas so that we can understand shifts that are coming that may influence consumers’ values, attitudes and behaviors.

For example, I found that many of the changes in cars were driven by the ever-evolving ways people used mobile devices and Internet to consume information and communicate with others. Hence, the evolution of inbuilt Bluetooth and SYNC technology. Another interesting finding was that women are playing key decision makers in car buying and that they have similar needs in car features as men but they just express it differently.

The technological evolution and change in buyer preferences have redefined the way we use our cars and thus, it is only natural that the same advancements be incorporated by the car makers. Therefore, I work closely with people in Ford Design and Product Development to make Ford cars, the future of automobile industry.

At home in Detroit, I’m a mother to two young daughters and there’s plenty to keep me busy. In my off time, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, sketching and skiing.

Read through some more interesting findings about car buying behaviours, revolutionary car technologies and some WOW features to look forward to.

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