Ford CEO Mark Fields wanted there to be no doubt that the automaker is absolutely not lagging competitors in the development of self-driving vehicles. “We are in a race to do what’s right for our business”.
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The Chinese search engine giant is already testing a fleet of driverless vehicles in China and has a Silicon Valley-based autonomous driving team.
The company released the announcement in its website, “Ford today announces its intent to have a high-volume, fully autonomous SAE level 4-capable vehicle in commercial operation in 2021 in a ride-hailing or ride-sharing service”.
Mr Fields said the next decade would be “defined by automation of the automobile”.
As with the USA, legislation will be a factor in any auto maker’s decision to introduce any significantly advanced autonomous vehicle here, but some regions – South Australia in particular – have taken steps to fast-track changes that would make these technologies welcome on public roads. The startup has been working on LiDAR (light, detection and ranging) systems since 2005, with the company looking to accelerate the cost reduction and scaling of its LiDAR technology for mass deployment in fully autonomous vehicles. And if you know your vehicle history, you’ll be aware it’s a company that normally has a bit of influence in what’s popular and acceptable to the masses.
There is already quite a number of autonomous cars now being tested by Ford, and they are seeking to triple their numbers by the end of this year.
“This is not just about convenience”.
Fields says he’s not closing the door on potential partnerships. “Think about the elderly person … trapped in their house because there is no way to get around”. Ford’s CEO Mark Fields has said that the company will triple its investment in the technology which includes now available help with parking and avoiding traffic jams.
“This is a transformational moment in our industry, and it is a transformational moment for our company”, said Fields, as he addressed a packed conference hall at Ford’s Silicon Valley campus in Palo Alto, California. “We are making people’s lives better by changing the way the world moves”. “There’s going to be no steering wheel, there’s not going to be a gas pedal, there’s not going to be a brake pedal and of course a driver is not going to be required”.
Instead, Ford is taking the same approach as Alphabet Inc’s Google, which supports moving directly to self-driving cars once the technology is perfected.
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“We have a strategic advantage because of our ability to combine the software and sensing technology with the sophisticated engineering necessary to manufacture high-quality vehicles”.
