Ford held a press event showing off their AV efforts is Miami.
theverge.com
But the ride was a marvel. Ford’s self-driving vehicles deftly handled a variety of challenging scenarios that have been known to trip up even the most skilled AVs, from unprotected left-hand turns, to construction zones, to narrow, two-way roads without lane markings. The car rode confidently alongside other drivers, braked for pedestrians, and inched its way assertively into intersections. The only time the vehicle seemed confused was when a passing flatbed truck kicked up an enormous cloud of dust, forcing the safety driver to momentarily take control.
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IT’S A 21ST CENTURY, SELF-DRIVING VERSION OF A CARHOP.
And this was what Ford really was interested in showcasing: its business model. Ride-hailing, fleet management, deliveries, and digital content — all the pieces Ford says will make its $4 billion bet on autonomous vehicles pay off and will send it rocketing past its supposed superior rivals. Today, ride-hailing costs around $2.50 per mile. Sherif Marakby, president and CEO of Ford Autonomous Vehicle LLC, estimated that the company’s autonomous vehicles could drive that price down to $1 per mile. Marakby said Ford wasn’t interested in following in the footsteps of Waymo and GM by launching a commercial service in one city in the near-term.
“If we wanted to call a launch 100 vehicles next year and go into some business, we could do that,” Marakby said. “I don’t think that’s what we want to do.”
Ford’s plan is far grander and will involve up to 100,000 self-driving cars — with no steering wheel, accelerator, or brake pedal — operating in multiple U.S. cities, delivering people and packages around the clock. The event in Miami was designed to leave one with the impression that Ford is approaching this challenge cautiously and deliberately. And it did that. |
