Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg spent time dealing with a Ford assembly line Thursday, and may send pickup truck purchasers searching for his autograph.
In a long note published on Facebook that ended with a smiley face, Zuckerberg wrote that his first stop was at the Ford Rouge Plant located in Dearborn, where he met the automaker’s executive chairman, Bill Ford, and helped assemble some new F-150 pickups “by adding antennas, cleats and drilling screws.”
“I even signed the inspection sticker on one,” Zuckerberg wrote. “You’re welcome, future F-150 owner.”
The journey was part of his New Year’s resolution to get in touch with more Americans and mend what he stated were societal departments wrought by technology and globalization. Zuckerberg has stated he prepares to visit and meet individuals in every state by the end of the year.
“After a tumultuous last year,” he wrote, “my hope for this challenge is to get out and talk to more people about how they’re living, working and thinking about the future.”
Ford authorities validated Zuckerberg’s visit and meeting, however it is uncertain the length of time it had been scheduled. It began the same day Ford announced first-quarter earnings.
“He decided to come to Michigan today, and meet our workers to discover their work and how they are incorporating new technology and innovation into their business,” stated Ford spokesperson Susan Krusel in an e-mail to the Free Press. “Bill Ford took him for a trip of the Dearborn Truck Plant, showing him how we are using advanced sustainable manufacturing in our operations.”
Krusel informed Zuckerberg spent time talking with workers, and then went to Ford’s product development center, where he rode in a Ford Fusion Hybrid autonomous research vehicle and met with Ford CEO Mark Fields “to get a feel for how the business is getting ready for the future as it transforms to be a vehicle and mobility company.”
Mark Zuckerberg posted pictures of himself working and listening at the pickup plant.
