Photo: Ford
‘Choose from 3-year, 1-year, or monthly packages for the upcoming 1.3 version.’
Ford has announced that it is expanding the availability of its BlueCruise hands-free driving technology. Previously, customers had to decide whether to add the option on available models at the time of purchase. However, Ford has now made the decision to install the service as standard on all supported vehicles. In addition to enabling it at purchase, owners will have the flexibility to add the service later or activate it only when needed, such as for road trips. This move by Ford aims to provide customers with more options and convenience.
While customers still have the option to purchase the BlueCruise feature at the time of buying their vehicle and include it in their financing, Ford is now also offering subscription options. Customers can subscribe to access BlueCruise annually or monthly at any point after the initial purchase. The pricing for the BlueCruise feature is $2,100 for a three-year purchase, $800 for an annual subscription, and $75 for a monthly subscription. Additionally, Ford is offering a 90-day free trial for customers who choose not to set it up at the time of purchase.
For the 2024 model year, Ford plans to install BlueCruise on 500,000 vehicles in North America, a significant increase compared to the current installation on 225,000 vehicles. This expansion demonstrates Ford’s commitment to making hands-free driving accessible to a larger customer base.
It is worth noting that the changes to the BlueCruise service will also apply to Lincoln vehicles. The 2024 Navigator and Nautilus lines, as well as select trims of the Lincoln Corsair, will come equipped with BlueCruise. The pricing for the annual and monthly subscriptions remains the same for Lincoln models.
Ford has also announced that the upcoming version of BlueCruise, BlueCruise 1.3, will enhance performance when driving around curves and narrow lanes. The company claims that v1.3 allows drivers to keep their hands off the wheel for a longer duration compared to the previous version, BlueCruise 1.0. Ford conducted internal testing and found that BlueCruise 1.3 stayed engaged in a hands-free mode for an average of five times longer. The 1.2 software update, released earlier this year, included features such as hands-free lane changes, in-lane repositioning, and predictive speed assist. Ford’s commitment to AI-assisted driving is evident with the establishment of its automated-driving subsidiary earlier this year.