Ford Appears To Be Copying off Tesla Yet Again

A patent application shows Ford is developing a pet mode similar to Tesla’s. Is it a blatant rip-off, or is Ford just the latest to take note of a growing trend?
Written by Andrew Kidd
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
A man standing next a red Ford SUV with his dog.
Ford
isn’t a stranger to forcing its competition to take note. But it seems to be taking a page out of Tesla’s book for a new feature for its customers’ furry friends according to a recently published patent application.
Car and Driver
(CD) reported Ford is looking into developing a “pet mode” similar to Tesla’s “dog mode,” according to a patent application from the company published in February.

Is Ford really copying Tesla?

This definitely isn’t a shot at Ford; it’s not uncommon for automakers to take cues from one another, especially for features that could crack a previously overlooked demographic with a deep love of their pets—and even deeper wallets.
U.S. pet owners spent nearly $104 billion on pet supplies and pet industry services in 2020 alone, according to stats published by the
Insurance Information Institute
. In short—pet owners are willing to shell out good money to keep their pets healthy and comfortable.
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What makes it a ‘pet’ mode?

Tesla introduced its “Dog mode” a few years back to give pet owners peace of mind when leaving their furry friends unattended in their vehicles.
This includes climate control and an on-screen message that reads “My owner will be back soon. Don’t worry!” along with the current cabin temperature. Tesla will also send the owner a push notification to their phone if the car’s battery drops below 20%.
It’s a nice way of saying, “Dog’s fine, please don’t break my windows,” especially in areas where it’s legal to smash windows to save pets believed to be stranded and suffering in a hot vehicle.

What does Ford’s pet mode offer?

Ford’s approach is similar. In the patent application, the company proposes ways to help its customers keep their pets comfortable in parked Ford vehicles, with users controlling windows, climate, and more through a connected app or key fob.
For example, owners could use their fob or app to lower windows, tweak cabin temperature and even fold-down seats to give their pet a little more room to sprawl. They can even set "relaxing music for the pet's enjoyment,” though that music taste likely varies from Shih Tzu to Schnauzer.

What else is Ford planning for pets?

Because it’s a patent application, it won’t detail every feature Ford might consider implementing in the future. But as CD notes, it does give some insight into Ford’s line of thought when it comes to making its vehicles more pet-friendly.
Still, as
pet ownership
climbs in the U.S. and more people treat their pets like they would their own children, it makes sense to see more automakers like Ford catering to these previously overlooked needs. If it results in bright eyes and wagging tails, it’s a win for everyone.
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