The
system, called Active Drive Assist, will be offered on several
Ford models, most notably the Mustang Mach-E, an all-electric
crossover vehicle that goes on sale later this year and is
targeted at the Tesla Model Y market.
Ford said U.S. buyers can order the Mustang Mach-E this fall
with the Active Driver Assist hardware package, which includes
extra radar sensors and a driver-facing camera, but the software
won't be ready until fall 2021.
Tesla introduced its first semi-automated hands-free driver
assist package, called Autopilot, in 2015. GM followed two years
later with a similar semi-automated feature called Super Cruise
on the Cadillac CT6.
Tesla has constantly revised and updated Autopilot and now
offers the feature across its entire four-model range. GM is
expanding Super Cruise to other Cadillac models this fall and
will offer an enhanced version to other GM brands over the next
three years.
Ford said the Active Drive Assist software can be installed when
ready next year through a wireless over-the-air update, similar
to how some computer software programs are installed and mobile
phone apps are updated. Tesla has offered over-the-air updates
since 2012.
(Reporting by Paul Lienert in Detroit, Editing by Rosalba
O'Brien)
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