Car companies are forever creating specialty niche vehicles for auto shows and they're usually a hit with the public, but there's no instance that I can recall where one of these units made it into production.
By specialty niche vehicles, I mean something that has been loaded up with equipment to appeal to a group of people with a common enthusiasm such as fishing, skiing and camping, or a common trade such as you would find in the construction or renovation industries.
These vehicles invariably draw crowds of men with stars in their eyes, and while it's possible for them to trick a vehicle up in a similar fashion on their own, most of them would prefer to have someone else do it and charge them for it. This the car companies have resolutely declined to do, though there has been regular chatter about getting into this business in the last 10 years.
For the consumer, there are benefits to having a car company build such a vehicle before it's delivered at the dealership. The company can make sure the parts are up to their quality standards, that they meet current safety levels and that they integrate more smoothly into the original design.
On top of that, the extra equipment would likely be included on the warranty, it could be financed along with the rest of the vehicle (instead of having to spend thousands more after buying the truck), and it might be part of the vehicle's residual value. These are all good things.
Now it looks as if Ford is about to take a tentative step into this gigantic opportunity with a vehicle for one the largest specialty niche markets in the world -- the mobile office for the contractor.
As part of its display at the SEMA aftermarket show in Las Vegas, Ford has the "General Contractor" F-250 Super Duty pickup on display with what it calls the "ultimate mobile office environment."
Said environment includes a "rugged but lightweight" in-cabin computer, a GPS navigation system, broadband internet access, order submission and payment processing capability.
Though fate may delay the process, Ford is currently promising that the mobile office system "is in development for inclusion as a dealer-installed accessory through the 'Genuine Ford Accessories' program in 2006."
To create the mobile office, Ford has gone to Stargate Mobile for the slate-shaped, touch-screen computer with an optional keyboard and Microsoft for the operating system.
According to Marty Collins, the general marketing manager for the Ford brand, the foundation of the new mobile office package "is a GPS, wireless broadband, printer and digital camera-equipped mobile computer that will allow contractors to bid jobs, order and purchase parts and materials, and process payments while 'on location' from their trucks."
F-Series is "all about getting the job done," says Collins, "and this new mobile office technology will fit our truck owners' needs to be on the go as their business demands. The Ford mobile office utilizes technology that is readily available and user-friendly," he adds, "yet uniquely packages and tests it to meet the demands of the 'Built Ford Tough' trucks."
The computer is a touch-screen slate mobile model mounted on the transmission tunnel within easy reach of the driver. Once the computer is securely mounted in its vehicle cradle, it's powered by the truck's battery and is directly connected to optional equipment including GPS antenna, printer, credit card scanner, or digital camera.
By specialty niche vehicles, I mean something that has been loaded up with equipment to appeal to a group of people with a common enthusiasm such as fishing, skiing and camping, or a common trade such as you would find in the construction or renovation industries.
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For the consumer, there are benefits to having a car company build such a vehicle before it's delivered at the dealership. The company can make sure the parts are up to their quality standards, that they meet current safety levels and that they integrate more smoothly into the original design.
On top of that, the extra equipment would likely be included on the warranty, it could be financed along with the rest of the vehicle (instead of having to spend thousands more after buying the truck), and it might be part of the vehicle's residual value. These are all good things.
Now it looks as if Ford is about to take a tentative step into this gigantic opportunity with a vehicle for one the largest specialty niche markets in the world -- the mobile office for the contractor.
As part of its display at the SEMA aftermarket show in Las Vegas, Ford has the "General Contractor" F-250 Super Duty pickup on display with what it calls the "ultimate mobile office environment."
Said environment includes a "rugged but lightweight" in-cabin computer, a GPS navigation system, broadband internet access, order submission and payment processing capability.
Though fate may delay the process, Ford is currently promising that the mobile office system "is in development for inclusion as a dealer-installed accessory through the 'Genuine Ford Accessories' program in 2006."
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According to Marty Collins, the general marketing manager for the Ford brand, the foundation of the new mobile office package "is a GPS, wireless broadband, printer and digital camera-equipped mobile computer that will allow contractors to bid jobs, order and purchase parts and materials, and process payments while 'on location' from their trucks."
F-Series is "all about getting the job done," says Collins, "and this new mobile office technology will fit our truck owners' needs to be on the go as their business demands. The Ford mobile office utilizes technology that is readily available and user-friendly," he adds, "yet uniquely packages and tests it to meet the demands of the 'Built Ford Tough' trucks."
The computer is a touch-screen slate mobile model mounted on the transmission tunnel within easy reach of the driver. Once the computer is securely mounted in its vehicle cradle, it's powered by the truck's battery and is directly connected to optional equipment including GPS antenna, printer, credit card scanner, or digital camera.