DURHAM – TransLoc, an emerging Durham entrepreneurial firm focused on transportation technology, is becoming part of a Ford subsidiary.
On Thursday, Ford announced it was acquiring TransLoc along with Silicon Valley-based Autonomic as it prepares to build what it is calling the Transportation Mobility Cloud open platform for cities and transportation partners.
“TransLoc is now a part of Ford Smart Mobility, ushering in the future of mobility with agency-owned flexible microtransit solutions.”
So TransLoc now declares on its website.
“Acquiring TransLoc allows Ford to leverage its operational expertise, network of city relationships, and proven track record of providing solutions to cities globally that can improve the rider experience with dynamic routing,” Ford said.
TransLoc is best known for its on-demand transit solution called the MicroTransit Simulator which targets minicipalities. In the Triangle, for example, TransLoc has worked to link Uber with mass transit. Its technology tracks and models demand a well as response analysis while providing mobile apps that can be used by individuals.
“Between the acquisition of Autonomic and TransLoc, plus the organizational changes, this is an acceleration of the mobility strategy here at Ford,” Neil Schloss, Ford’s CFO of Ford Mobility, told TechCrunch in an interview.
The two acquisitions will become part of Ford’s Smart Mobility subsidiary.
TransLoc CEO Doug Kaufman told The Triangle Business Journal that he expects Ford will maintain a presence in the Triangle. How TransLoc fits into Ford’s plans?
“I think we fit in a variety of areas … their vision is improving mobility for everyone,” Kaufman told TBJ. “We’re a mission-based company and this enables us to go after that mission in ways we couldn’t have dreamed of before.”
