Commentary
Ford To Start Producing Autonomous Cars In 2021
- by Chuck Martin , Staff Writer, December 18, 2019
Ford Motor Company is planning to start producing autonomous vehicles starting in 2021.
In addition to announcing its plans to invest $1.45 billion in two southeast Michigan manufacturing facilities, Ford said it intends to build its first autonomous vehicles in Wayne, Michigan.
Employees at Ford’s Autonomous Vehicle, Bronco and Ranger modification center in Wayne will built the first vehicles, including the installation of self-driving technology and customer interiors.
Bronco and Ranger vehicles also will be modified for customers at that location.
The center will be the first of its kind for Ford and is slated to drive synergies with Ford’s autonomous vehicle research functions in Detroit and Dearborn.
“We are investing aggressively in building on our strengths, including trucks and SUVs, while expanding our leadership into electric and autonomous vehicles,” stated Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president, automotive.
Automakers have been challenged in getting fully autonomous cars on the road and the actual levels of autonomy, or self-driving capabilities, have become fuzzier over time.
The general trend is to build in technology to assist drivers rather than totally automate their driving, referred to as the vehicles being fully autonomous. That development is still some years away.
Chuck Martin is Editor of the AI & IoT Daily at MediaPost and writes the daily Connected Thinking column. He is a NY Times Business bestselling author and his latest book is “Digital Transformation 3.0” (The New Business-to-Consumer Connections of The Internet of Things.) He is CEO of Net Future Institute and a frequent keynote speaker internationally. Follow him on Twitter @chuckmartin and contact him at Chuck@MediaPost.com.
"We are investing aggressively in building on our strengths, including trucks and SUVs, while expanding our leadership into electric and autonomous vehicles,” stated Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president, automotive.
I will repeat this again. The GM of Ford dealership in SW Virginia I know, thinks like normal folks, says Ghost-driver cars are a scary-dumb idea. He also said he will not stock any of those cars unless Ford forces him too, which they probably will. His sales force will not promo them either. When are they going to realize, NOBODY WANTS THIS EXCEPT THEM. AND the magic question.................."HOW MUCH DOES IT COST, FORD??"