DEARBORN, Mich. -

Ford autonomous vehicle engineer Leda Daehler remembers having a challenging vehicle shopping experience, searching for a Lincoln MKZ with a tan interior and adaptive cruise control. And Daehler had to drive eight hours to pick it up.

Daehler’s fellow Ford engineer Arnold Kadiu experienced similar vehicle-buying frustrations. The two engineers came up with an idea to create a website for Ford customers looking for their perfect used vehicle.

Daehler and Kadiu found an ally in Ford X.  Using what Ford describes as “in-market experiments,” the Ford Smart Mobility division Ford X incubates, tests and validates new ideas and business models.

Ford X helped Daehler and Kadiu get funding and support to design a website, engage dealers and put a pilot site together. The result is FindYourFord.com, a site the company says makes it easier for Detroit-area customers to shop for used Ford vehicles

“Leda and I both discussed our frustrations shopping for used vehicles and were able to turn those experiences into a new service thanks to Ford X,” Kadiu said in a news release, adding that he remembers a frustrating experience finding the specific vehicle he wanted — a long-bed, crew-cab F-150 with two-wheel drive and adaptive cruise control.

“We were fortunate to join Ford at a time when the company is open to new ideas that can lead to real results,” Kadiu said.

Ford X vice president Sundeep Madra added, “Most people have experienced the frustration of settling for something less than desired,”

Find Your Ford works to ease that frustration, letting shoppers search for used vehicles from different dealerships in one place, according to the company. That reduces the need to scroll through individual dealer inventories separately.

On the site, customers can filter results based on features that most interest them, including those that can be tough to find on other online sales sites, such as heated steering wheels and specific driver-assist technologies.

After finding a vehicle that interests them, prospective buyers can schedule a time to see the car at the dealership. Ford dealers will then arrange a test drive and help complete the purchase.

“The Find Your Ford platform helps customers build relationships with dealerships, so they have a trusted partner in their corner, whether they have questions about the vehicle’s technologies or need an oil change,” Madra said. “Other sites sell them and leave them. We know the importance of customer support after the purchase and for the life of the vehicle.”

Six Metro Detroit dealerships are currently participating in a pilot program to use the Find Your Ford platform, and Ford says it is exploring expansion to more dealerships and other markets.

“Find Your Ford complements perfectly the Customer Experience team’s broader work to help customers buy and service vehicles easier,” Daehler said. “This is just one of many ways that Ford is investing to increase loyalty with our customers.”