FuelSignal emerged as the best of the apps created by more than 170 developers who attended the Ford Developer Conference, with more than 60 participating in an overnight App Pursuit hackathon leveraging data generated by Ford vehicles and city data provided by the City of Los Angeles. The event shows how connected-car interest is growing quickly among automakers and brands. 

?Mobile marketing associated with a vehicle requires special thought and care, and Ford is excited that we have a developer community that will contribute their innovation in our efforts to better understand this new in-vehicle landscape,? said Scott Burnell, global lead, Partner Management, Ford Developer Program.

The awarding of the grand prize in the Connected Car-Connected City App Pursuit was announced at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show Connected Car Expo.

Following the Ford Developer Conference, the automaker announced the top 10 App Pursuit finalists, and the teams had two months to refine their apps by working with the Ford team before presenting the finished product at the Connected Car Expo at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

FuelSignal monitors a car?s fuel level when a user?s mobile device is paired with Ford?s SYNC integrated in-vehicle communications and entertainment system. 

When the fuel level drops low the application alerts the driver and enables him or her to find the nearest gas station with a discounted price. 

FuelSignal provides additional convenience for drivers by allowing them to pay for their fuel purchase using a mobile wallet at the pump via AppLink, which allows mobile devices to run apps using the car's steering wheel buttons, radio, or voice commands. Every purchase completed through the app earns loyalty credits that can be used inside the location or applied as further discount for fuel purchases.

Team FuelSignal will be awarded a feature announcement with Ford at the 2015 International CES in Las Vegas.

Connected-car interest is growing quickly among automakers and brands. A Nielsen report early this year found that about one in five drivers aware of connected cars is already driving one of them ? and that number is expected to swell as automakers continue to introduce the new tech into more and more models.

Ford?s Detroit rival, General Motors, is equipping 33 new car models with fourth-generation Wi-Fi hot spots, allowing consumers to connect up to seven mobile devices at once and to remain connected up to 50 feet away from the vehicle. 

?FuelSignal, the grand prize winner in the Ford app developer hackathon, fulfills a basic need that every driver has to find fuel nearby and at the best available price,? Mr. Burnell said. ?Its simplicity of use in the vehicle and loyalty rewards could drive brand affinity because most of the activity in the app occurs in the background while driving. 

?This presents owners with an experience they would automatically associate with driving a Ford vehicle engages customers with a brand,? he said.