Sam Harris was crouched in the Oregon woods next to a red Ford F-150 Platinum, checking an alert on his phone, when he felt the presence of something big moving behind him.
The alert was coming from the Ford app, part of a security feature he helped build as the director of product for Ford Secure. And the something big? That was an 800-pound Kodiak bear, standing on its hind legs, rocking the 5,000-pound truck like a seesaw.
“It was something out of a movie,” Harris said. “He was very well-behaved but just a massive animal.” Harris’ wonder at seeing a bear live for the first time was only slightly minimized by the fact that the bear was trained for this, hired by Ford to test the Ford Security Package.*
Ford didn’t want to rely only on laboratory assessments to ensure the new package could handle a multitude of customer environments. No, the team wanted real-world proof, especially after years of perfecting the package. Nothing could put it to task like one of “nature’s best thieves,” as Harris put it.
‘Bears Love to Destroy Things’
Enter Tag, a celebrity bear actor you might recognize from the show “Yellowstone.” Ford hired the bear and his trainer to properly bash the truck, which was parked in the woods near the ranch where Tag lives. A team of engineers tracked how the Ford Security Package handled the barrage, watching the security alerts fly to Harris’ phone while videoing the entire episode.
The bear did his job, following instructions from trainer Keith Bauer to shake, scratch, and bash the F-150.
“Bears love to destroy things. They like to break things,” Bauer said. Tag, who’s appeared in dozens of movies and commercials, knows what it means to learn. “I was really happy with the way Tag did the things they wanted him to do.”
Ford sent Bauer a practice truck to train with weeks before the event. Bauer also built a platform so the 7.5-foot bear could properly push the truck, his favorite movement. “When he got up there and got the truck rocking, you can see he’s up on his toes because he is really getting into it and liking it.”
When Tag successfully completed a task during practice, Bauer asked him to stop so the bear wouldn’t get bored, saving his enthusiasm for the cameras.
Tag Excels at Truck Thrashing
The test, which also featured an animal welfare specialist at every step, worked into Tag’s busy acting schedule and had to conclude before his natural winter slowdown.
Bauer encouraged Tag to do his worst, including clawing down the truck’s side panel and smashing a window. Tag even learned to open the door — Harris said Ford making the handles ideal for glove wearers must also be ideal for bear paws.
“It was something he liked to do, so he did it really well,” Bauer says about the door, “He loved it.” The scratch surprised the trainer since it’s such a different movement than Tag normally performs.
“It felt like having a human in a bear suit; he was so natural,” Harris said. “Him opening the door was one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen an animal do, but the truck held up really well.”
In this test, what was good for Tag wasn’t good for the F-150. But it was ideal for challenging the security package.
Assessing new features inside Ford’s labs is one thing, but customers use vehicles in a range of ways, from urban to rugged environments, that even surprises engineers.
“These real-world environments and tests uncover insights,” Harris said. “Seeing Tag next to the truck was great, and seeing the truck do everything we hoped it was going to do was fantastic.”
Customizable Alerts Give Customers Control
The Ford Security Package features customizable alerts sent to owners via the Ford app, notifying them of a range of situations. Tag was especially skilled at triggering the “potential intrusion alert.” Breaking a window and reaching into the cab was one of the many ways he did so.
Tag also got a look (and Harris got a look at Tag) through the new Ford Truck Bed Camera. The camera provides a real-time, 180-degree field of view and HD remote live-streaming, plus cloud storage that allows owners to review intrusions or provide evidence to insurance companies — even when the theft may seem unbelievable (such as if it involved a Kodiak bear.)
While Tag activated many of the new security alerts, Ford has plenty more that Security Package customers can enable or disable to tailor notifications to their own situation, including:
- Potential cabin intrusion alert
- Door opened alert
- Hardware disabled alert, triggered if someone tampers with the vehicle — including alerting to some of the tactics used by organized crime rings and professional thieves
- Unexpected location alert, activated if the vehicle is relocated without the engine on
And alerts are only one part of the total security package. Other features include:
- Start Inhibit, which prevents the vehicle from being started, even if someone has a key
- A direct line to a 24/7 call security call center
“This really is cutting edge,” Harris said of the package, noting customers remain in control as they can customize alerts. “We design for a wide variety of use cases because our vehicles are used in so many interesting ways.” Tag is no exception.
Tim Newcomb is a contributing writer for From the Road.
What to Read Next
*Ford Security Package requires the Ford app, modem activation, and an activated plan. Equipped Ford vehicles come with a one-year included trial from new vehicle warranty start date, after which purchase is required. Credit card required for activation and Package automatically renews until cancelled. Requires vehicle connectivity and a connected mobile device with enabled push notifications. Not available in U.S. territories.
