Ford introduces first hands-free driving tech, recalls 37,000 Lincoln Navigators

*The automobile manufacturer launches BlueCruise will be available on two models, as the company expects about 100,000 consumers to take advantage of the new technology by the end of 2021

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

In its efforts at remaining at the cutting edge of innovations in the automobile world, Ford has launched BlueCruise, a hands-free driving technology that will allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel on over 100,000 miles of divided highways.

ConsumerConnect learnt when the technology is ready to roll out, owners of 2021 F-150 pickups and Mustang Mach-E electric SUVs that are equipped with BlueCruise hardware can pay a $600 subscription fee and download the software.

2020 Lincoln Aviator    Photo: Wikipedia

The leading auto maker explained that it expects as many as 100,000 customers to take advantage of the new technology by the end of the year, bringing the automaker a step closer to self-driving capability. It puts the company on par with Cadillac’s SuperCruise system, which has been around for the last four years.

According to Ford and General Motors (GM), their systems are a step above Tesla’s AutoPilot, which the company has repeatedly stressed is not a hands-free system. However, investigations of a number of Tesla accidents over the years have shown that some drivers have used it that way, according to report.

As the ‘mother of all road trips’, Ford said 500,000 miles of development testing and fine-tuning will have gone into the BlueCruise testing by the time it’s ready for distribution to Ford consumers later this year.

Hitherto in the one year, Ford has dispatched a fleet of 10 test vehicles – five F-150 pickups and five all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUVs – to complete what test drivers dubbed the “mother of all road trips.”

Meanwhile, Ford Motor Company is recalling 37,000 model year 2020-21 Lincoln Aviator vehicles.

The company stated the image processing module may be intermittently unable to provide a video feed to the display screen, resulting in a loss of the rearview camera image when the vehicle is in reverse.

In connection with what to do to rectify the error, Ford will notify affected owners, and will update the image processing module software free of charge

The current recall is expected to begin May 19, 2021.

Owners may contact Ford Customer Service on (866) 436-7332, and Ford’s number for this recall is 21C09.