Ford invests 182 million in Silicon Valley tech firm

FordPass, a set of mobility services, was developed by Ford in conjunction with Pivotal, a Silicon Valley software developer. DETROIT -- Ford said Thursday it is investing 182 million in Pivotal, a Silicon Valley-based software development company, to gain access to cutting-edge software-development expertise that the automaker admits it would struggle to develop on its own. Ford's investment is part of a 253 million financing package for Pivotal that also includes funding from Microsoft, GE, EMC and VMware. The Dearborn, Mich., automaker's investment in the Silicon Valley developer is the latest in a string of partnerships and acquisitions announced recently between Detroit automakers and Silicon Valley Technology companies, including a deal between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Google that emerged earlier this week. The growing number of tie-ups between the automakers and the tech companies underscores a rapid pace of collaboration as the two industries jointly develop autonomous vehicles, more advanced in-car entertainment and mobility services.