Ford named Apple veteran Peter Stern to head the newly formed Integrated Services, which will develop and market software based products.

He was VP of services at Apple for six years and launched a variety of products.

He will oversee development of products linked to the hands free highway driving system and productivity and safety/security services.

The company has 550,000 paid software and services subscribers with commercial vehicle customers accounting for 80% of that.

Stern said: "The basis for differentiation is shifting from the vehicles alone to the
integration of hardware, software and services.”