2024-09-27 02:40:57
They also allowed Ford to use autonomous driving technology
Ford has been given permission to launch the most advanced version of its autonomous driving technology in Western European countries. Tesla will offer its much-discussed Full Self-Driving (FSD) in Europe and China from early next year.
Giving the car control to the last degree was taboo in Europe. In Germany, there are sections where it is allowed to leave the control of the systems in the “hands” of the car at certain speeds and circumstances. This is possible, for example, with BMW and Mercedes cars. At BMW 7 Series
the driver can take his eyes off the wheel at low speeds
(up to 60 km/h), for example in traffic.
With Tesla Full Self-Driving, the driver can take his hands off the wheel even in urban areas. The car drives itself from point A to point B, even taking into account traffic lights and cross traffic.
At Ford, the technology is called Blue Cruise. In its latest version (level 2+), it takes care of steering, braking and acceleration for the driver at speeds up to 130 km/h. The driver can let go of the steering wheel but must remain alert. The car monitors distraction using a fatigue sensor located above the steering wheel. Either way, this feature is also mandatory for all new models sold in the EU from the beginning of July.
In most other brands the driving
hands free is limited to 20 seconds
But if the Ford owner remains careful, this limitation does not apply. Specifically, he will be reminded if he looks away for more than 7 seconds.
Blue Cruise Autopilot is already licensed in the UK, Spain and Germany. Ford has already received approval from the European Commission to offer it as a convenience and safety-enhancing gadget in 15 European countries. According to Ford, it’s possible to drive the Mustang Mach-E electric sports car from Sweden to Italy and cover almost 3,000 kilometers, or more than 25 hours hands-free.
For now, don’t expect swarms of Ford drivers idling behind the wheel. This technology is only available on the Mustang Mach-E. And it is not included in the standard equipment. Enthusiasts must pay €25 per month or take out an annual subscription.
Owners can first take a free 90-day trial of Autopilot. On the new models it can be configured now, while the older versions of the Mach-E
they will activate it via an over-the-air update
The company assures that Blue Cruise will also appear on future models.
Apart from the price, the system is also related to mapping. It is only allowed on highways that are in blue zones designated by Ford. These are usually major thoroughfares. These blue areas correspond to roads also classified as “safe” by other brands. With Hyundai’s Highway Assist, for example, these are sections of highway,
where automatic lane change is enabled
So far, Ford is the only brand that has gone this far in semi-autonomous driving technology. Other manufacturers also have it, but level 2 functionality in Mercedes, Audi and BMW is limited to driving in traffic for now and a ceiling of around 60 km/h. After this progress by Ford, other brands will certainly want to follow the American company, experts predict.