Ford SYNC 911 Assist Now Present in 2 Million Vehicles

American manufacturer Ford announced today that its SYNC 911 Assist feature, which has been available since late 2009, is now available on 2 million vehicles. This is the only vehicle-based, no-cost, non-subscription call-for-help system. The automaker estimates that at least 85 percent of customers pair their phones with SYNC.

The system in question makes use of the driver's own mobile phone and runs in the background once the phone is properly paired with SYNC.

In the event of an accident in which an airbag deploys or, in certain vehicles, the emergency fuel pump shutoff is activated, the SYNC 911 Assist immediately dials 911. Should an occupant not be able to communicate with the 911 operator, an introductory message tells the emergency operator that an accident has occurred.

Starting with selected 2011 model year vehicles, SYNC 911 Assist can provide emergency operators with GPS coordinates that are generated by a vehicle's onboard GPS receiver.

Also, vehicles equipped with optional MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch have a priority emergency screen that contains location information during a 911 Assist call along with quick-touch access to In Case of Emergency (ICE) contacts at the end of a 911 Assist call.

The feature is currently available on all SYNC-equipped 2011 vehicles, including Ford Explorer, Taurus, Focus, Flex, Fusion, Escape and F-150, as well as Lincoln MKS, MKZ and MKT.

"Since SYNC 911 Assist was launched, we have heard many remarkable stories about how the technology has made a difference for people in their time of need," said David Hatton, global product leader/electrical engineer with Ford Connected Services. "It is very rewarding to work on a product that can provide assistance for millions when needed."