American car maker, Ford, has recently announced their plans to have a high-volume, fully autonomous vehicle in commercial operation in 2021, however the vehicle will be used in a ride-hailing or ride-sharing service. In order to accomplish their goal, Ford will be investing in and collaborating with four startups to enhance its autonomous vehicle development. They will also be doubling their Silicon Valley team and more than doubling its Palo Alto campus. With more than a decade of autonomous vehicle R&D, Ford’s first fully autonomous vehicle will be a fully autonomous vehicle without a steering wheel or gas and brake pedals. It’s being specifically designed for commercial mobility services, such as ride sharing and ride hailing, and will be available in high volumes.
Autonomous vehicles in 2021 are part of Ford Smart Mobility, the company’s plan to be a leader in autonomous vehicles, as well as in connectivity, mobility, the customer experience, and data and analytics.“The next decade will be defined by automation of the automobile, and we see autonomous vehicles as having as significant an impact on society as Ford’s moving assembly line did 100 years ago,” said Mark Fields, Ford president and CEO. “We’re dedicated to putting on the road an autonomous vehicle that can improve safety and solve social and environmental challenges for millions of people – not just those who can afford luxury vehicles.”
