Ford Rolls Out a New Chatbot, Ford Stock (NYSE:F) Jumps

Give legacy automaker Ford F +0.90% ▲ credit. It is taking advantage of new technologies in a fashion that should result in better customer service and repeat business. At least, this is the hoped-for outcome, as Ford rolls out a new chatbot for Ford Pro Telematics Software users. Investors seemed to share the optimism here, and sent Ford shares up nearly 1.5% in Tuesday afternoon’s trading.

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The new chatbot, it is hoped, will provide faster access to information, improve early warnings about maintenance needs, and offer users tips to improve fleet efficiency. The chatbot calls on proprietary datasets that Ford has been keeping for a long time, and should give its user base—mostly fleet managers—access to the kind of tools and information that makes managing a fleet of vehicles easier.

Ford Pro Intelligence general manager Kevin Dunbar noted, “Ford Pro AI is built to extend human capability, not replace it, by bringing responsible, fleet-specific intelligence to help solve real-world problems. Ford Pro AI takes the millions of data points commercial vehicles can generate, from seatbelt clicks to vehicle health signals, and turns them into insights that fleet managers can use to act quickly.”

The New Popemobile?

In an unexpected twist, Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, and wife Lia offered up a personal gift to the new Pope Leo XIV that had a lot of personal connection. The Farleys offered Pope Leo a new Ford Explorer SUV, a Platinum class. It had been assembled at the Chicago Assembly Plant, which is about five miles away from Leo’s hometown: Dolton, Illinois.

The Explorer in question had also received extensive customization. It boasts a 3.3-liter V6 hybrid powertrain system, a 10-speed hybrid transmission, seat tags with the Chicago flag, and the Chicago skyline stitched into the center console. There is even a set of vanity license plates reading “LEO XIV” and, in a nod that was very much Chicago: “DA POPE.”

Is Ford Stock a Good Buy Right Now?

Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Hold consensus rating on F stock based on three Buys, 12 Holds and one Sell assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. After a 25.8% rally in its share price over the past year, the average F price target of $14.02 per share implies 13.84% upside potential.

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