Ford Debuts Innovative SYNC Feature in China

Next-Gen SYNC System Makes It Easier for Chinese Drivers to Navigate Their World

Ford Motor Co. continues its push to revolutionize the concept of in-car technology. Except, in this latest case, the innovation is aimed at improving the Mustang ownership experience in China.

In partnership with their engineering team in Nanjing, Ford has introduced a new feature that enables Mustang owners to use a highly-intuitive handwriting system. It allows the user to hand-scribble characters, which Ford’s new SYNC 3 system recognizes and automatically turns into typeface. The system is actually capable of deciphering Chinese characters written at angles of up to 15 degrees.

Prior to the technology, Chinese Mustang drivers had to type phonetic spellings of Chinese words. Then they’d be required to select one of multiple characters offered. Apparently, the former process was especially cumbersome for older Chinese drivers.

CHECK OUT: What Forum Members Are Saying About This Innovative New Feature

“The Chinese version of SYNC 3 is far more than just a translation of a global technology,” says Fisher Xu, SYNC Supervisor for Ford Asia Pacific, in a press release statement. “It’s really been localized to respond to a Chinese driver’s needs with a local point of view. From the voice commands that understand our accents and our habits, to the way we structure our statements.”

Xu says the system proves extremely beneficial to Chinese Mustang owners on a number of levels. Namely, because they tend to search for locations much differently than when do here in the States.

“For instance, when you talk to a friend in China and they ask where you are, they’re really looking for a building name or a point of interest, not a street number,” explains Xu.

In addition to the Mustang, the new system is also available on the Ford Focus, Taurus Limited Edition, Edge, Kuga, and Explorer.