Ford reveals plans for on-demand minibus commuter service in London

Ford has revealed plans for an on-demand minibus shuttle commuter service in London to offer transport to currently under-serviced areas.

The US car maker is looking to offer rides along six fixed routes with designated stops and destinations.

It would be run through the company's start-up Chariot and commuters can book places on 15-seater shuttle buses using a smartphone app.

Transport for London will hold a public consultation on Ford's plans in the UK until December 18 before ruling whether it will qualify to operate in the capital. The company will then have to obtain a London Service Permit for each proposed route.

Chariot already operates similar services in San Francisco and New York.

The buses will travel on fixed routes with stops varying depending on commuter demand. Routes would operate in areas including Battersea, Kennington, Abbey Wood, Erith, Fulham, Shooters Hill, North Greenwich, Southwark and Wandsworth.

Commuters will be able to pay through the Chariot app and will have the option of purchasing a monthly pass or to pay as they go.

Ford is not the first carmaker to offer such a service in inner cities. Volkswagen teamed up with taxi-hailing app Gett and Daimler has partnered with the app, Via.

But public transport groups have expressed unease at the growth of private hire firms which could encourage people not to use local buses.

In London, TfL data revealed that the number of passengers travelling via public transport plateaued at 4 billion in 2014/5 compared to previous years of growth.

But Chariot insists that its service will be complimentary to public transport services.

Ford wrote in a statement: “We continue to explore additional markets as part of our expansion plans, with London being one of them. We have applied for the relevant licences to operate a commuter microtransit service in London that would complement the existing public transport system.

"We are now awaiting a response from TfL regarding our applications for London Service Permits.”

The car giant has said that it is planning six initial routes in the capital.

The six routes include; the Battersea Bullet travelling from Battersea Park to Kennington Station, the Nuxley Navigator going from Carlton Road, Erith to Abbey Wood Station, the Riverside Race from Fulham Riverside.Townmead to Holland Park Station, Shooters Hill Shot travelling from Shooters Hill to North Greenwich Station,Southwark Shortcut taking commuter from St Georges Way to Bermondsey Underground Station, and the Wandsworth Wanderer going from Wandsworth Riverside to Clapham Junction Station.

The six routes proposed would run Monday to Friday apart from public holidays.

Ford hopes to introduce the service into London from 29 January next year.

Chariot was first founded in San Francisco in 2014 by Ali Vahabzadeh. It was the first acquisition made by Ford’s Mobility division which focuses on transportation of the future.

Ford bought the start up last year for approximately £50 million.

It opened a new smart mobility office in London in order to focus on future mobility options in Europe in October.

The mobility office employs 40 researchers who will look for mobility solutions.