Ford targets fully autonomous vehicle

Ford recently announced its intent to have a high-volume, fully autonomous SAE level 4-capable vehicle in commercial operation in 2021 as a ride-hailing or ride-sharing service.

Towards this goal, the company is investing in or collaborating with four start-ups to enhance its autonomous vehicle development, doubling its Silicon Valley team and Palo Alto campus.

"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 Ford president and CEO Mark Fields.

"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," he said.

To be a leader in autonomous vehicles in 2021 is part of the company's Ford Smart Mobility plan as well as in connectivity, mobility, customer experience, data and analytics.

"Ford has been developing and testing autonomous vehicles for over 10 years," said Ford executive vice president, Global Product Development, and chief technical officer Raj Nair. "We have a strategic advantage because of our ability to combine software and sensing technology with sophisticated engineering," he said.