‘I’m always the one with the map!’

Sarah-jayne Williams is a director of Smart Mobility at Ford Europe, helping to drive the future of motoring.

‘Ford’s original goal was to help the masses move, but the best way to do that has changed – something you’ll know if you’ve battled city traffic. My job? To find a solution fit for the future. I joined Ford in 2017 and have teams based in London, Valencia and Cologne. We’re changing how people move by taking them out of private cars and putting them in shared transportation. In February 2018, we launched Chariot, a commuter shuttle, or “shared bus”, where customers can book a seat and be picked up near their home. We also look at how goods move – if you’ve ordered something on Amazon, a van might deliver it into your city, and the “last mile”? We’re re-examining how to do that in a clean way, using bikes, for example.

I spent 14 years working as a management consultant, often with motoring companies. Now, I spend time sharing ideas and collaborating with governments to solve transport challenges. I’m not impressed or challenged by hierarchy – connecting with every individual is what’s important.

One of my highlights came earlier this year when we began trialling 20 hybrid vehicles that switch to an electric engine when they enter a low-emission zone in a city. They give the drivers the confidence that they’re not going to run out of charge.

I’m outdoorsy and spend my spare time hiking, fishing or snorkelling. I find nature refuelling; it puts the rest of what we do into perspective. I think you carry the same characteristics in your personal life as you do your professional world – I’m always the one with the map!’

My 2019 trend prediction

We’ll see rapid growth in electric vehicles and charging points. Self-driving cars won’t be available to buy, but we can expect more trials.