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Ford: No Fully Autonomous Cars Until 2026
Consumers aren’t likely to be able to buy their own completely automated vehicles until at least 2026, even though such vehicles may come into use by ride-sharing services by 2021.
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Consumers aren’t likely to be able to buy their own completely automated vehicles until at least 2026, even though such vehicles may come into use by ride-sharing services by 2021.
So says Ken Washington, Ford Motor Co.’s vice president of research and advanced engineering in a speech to attendees of WCX, the annual SAE International conference in Detroit. He predicts “relatively gradual” adoption by the public.
Ford is developing a self-driving vehicle that won’t have a steering wheel or foot pedals for use by ride-share services in 2021. The so-called “level 4” autonomous vehicle will be able to drive itself with no human intervention—but only within a fixed area or along predetermined routes.
Washington says it could take as long as 10 more years for carmakers to offer “level 5” vehicles that can operate automatically in virtually any driving situation. Still, he asserts the goal isn’t just science fiction. “This is something we’re going to make happen,” he asserts. “Others will too.”
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