Ford (NYSE: F) and ADT Inc. (NYSE: ADT) will invest in a new joint venture called Canopy that combines ADT’s professional
security monitoring and Ford’s AI-driven video camera technology to help customers strengthen security of new and existing vehicles across automotive brands.
“The combination of our technologies and our deep security experience creates a new category
of protection for work and personal vehicles,” said Elliot Cohen, ADT chief business
development officer. “Vehicles represent the second-most-valuable asset for consumers, and
helping to protect them extends ADT’s safe, smart, and sustainable solutions far beyond the
home.”
Canopy plans to launch industry-first, multi-sensor security systems with available professional
monitoring early next year. The first products to be manufactured and sold will be available in
the U.S. and the U.K. for the industry’s highest-volume commercial and retail pickups and vans
– including the Ford F-150, F-150 Lightning, Transit vans and E-Transit – and will be easily
installable by customers to protect expensive work and recreational equipment.
“Thieves have been even more active during the pandemic and know business owners store
valuable equipment in vehicles, often hauling more than $50,000 of gear. Canopy is here for
those who’ve had enough of thefts that threaten their livelihoods,” said Franck Louis-Victor, vice
president, Ford New Business Platform. “Key to Ford’s software-led transformation are new
ideas such as Canopy and collaborating with other innovators such as ADT, which brings to
vehicle security their leadership protecting families, homes, and businesses.”
The FBI estimates [1] that stolen work equipment cost more than $7.4 billion in 2020 in the U.S.,
and theft of valuable work equipment is believed to be underestimated in stolen vehicle reports.
Small business owners face even greater opportunity costs with the deferral or loss of jobs while
replacing stolen items.
Canopy also plans to begin integrating camera security solutions in Ford vehicles next year for
seamless protection inside and outside vehicles. Canopy will seek factory-vehicle integrations
with other automakers over time.
- Canopy’s first smart vehicle security system accessory offering will make use of acoustic
sensors for vans, onboard cameras, radar, LTE, and GPS. The initial product will have a
camera that can be mounted in either a van’s cargo area or on a pickup facing the bed. The
platform will use AI technology to identify and report credible threats while reducing false alarm
signals.
- Customers will be connected to the system via the Canopy app to livestream video from
the vehicle, get notified of suspicious activity, or review past events.
- The system will trigger a smartphone alert of any indicators of potential criminal activity,
such as breaking glass, metal cutting, or suspicious motion or sound near the vehicle.
- Customers can warn potential thieves they are being monitored by speaking through the
smartphone app, enabled by a two-way audio feature that will be available by next year.
- The system’s AI is designed to distinguish true threats from benign acts – such as a cat
jumping into a pickup bed or construction sounds near a vehicle – before alerting the
owner or ADT monitoring agents of potential theft.
- The system will alert ADT monitoring professionals if it detects a person loitering around
or breaching the vehicle [2].
ADT monitoring agents can then contact customers, fleet managers, or police to take additional
measures to help prevent theft. Credible threats will trigger additional responses, including
audible alerts and programmable voice recordings and two-way audio in future updates.
The first-of-its-kind Canopy products will be sold through vehicle dealerships, major retailers,
and online. Ford Pro will be an important launch partner delivering these solutions to
commercial and government customers of all sizes, helping drive business forward and
accelerate productivity at a global scale.
“Commercial customers around the world are laser focused on protecting investments from
costly replacements that can impact their bottom lines,” said Ted Cannis, CEO, Ford Pro.
“Canopy will help Ford Pro deliver another service to fleets helping to improve total cost of
ownership by staying productive and avoiding downtime associated with stolen tools and
damaged vehicles – including the majority with mixed fleets since Canopy technology will be
available across brands.”
The Canopy team has been developing and testing its first technologies for two years as part of
Ford’s New Business Platform innovation incubation group. They will now be headquartered in
Detroit and London and led by Interim CEO Christian Moran.
Canopy also will seek relationships with other automotive, insurance, and technology
companies to expand offerings, explore insurance benefits for use of the technology, and cocreate new innovations.
Ford and ADT’s investment in Canopy is subject to certain conditions, including regulatory
approvals, and initial funding is expected to close in the second quarter of 2022. The partners
expect to invest approximately $100 million during the next three years.
For more information, visit www.canopy.security
Footnotes:
1 U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Report.
2 Requires subscription to ADT professional monitoring tier
He joined Per Mar Security and Research Corp, the company founded by his parents, John and Eleanor (Duax) Duffy. After success at an entry level job (cleaning dog kennels), Mike was promoted during high school and college to work as both a dispatcher and a scheduler. These early work experiences influenced one of Mike’s core values: Treat people from all walks of life with equal respect. Mike was an avid couponer and yet a generous tipper. Mike had a quick wit and an incredible (Irish) sense of humor that was known to many but most loved by his family.
Not only does the DualCom make it easy to upgrade old systems to LTE, but as phone lines drop out, this solution gives a way to connect to older panels with dialer communicators only. Alarm companies can also give their customers the smart home features they want with automated actions, cameras and video doorbell all from the Virtual Keypad™ app. And don’t forget, with DMP, network communication is free.
Prior to accepting his position at DMP, Carlos gained 13 years of experience working with many well-known industry leaders. “I started working in the industry as an integrator in Allen, Texas,†said Carlos. “From there, I worked as a global distributor for six years.†After working in distribution, Carlos went on to work in manufacturing
