Ford Mustang Mach-E autonomous driving update coming in the third quarter of 2021

Mustang to the latest Mach-E version

Ford has specified when and with which equipment packages the electric Mustang Mach-E will support long-term hands-free driving on motorways for the first time in the Group. According to this, it is necessary to book a hardware package before a paid software update in the third quarter of 2021 follows.

The Mustang Mach-E is not only Ford’s first fully electric vehicle, but also the first car of the group, for which autonomous driving without a grip to the steering wheel on previously defined routes will be possible. These initially include all highways divided by a green strip of the 50 US states and Canada. According to the current planning, the Mustang Mach-E will be permanently controlled by hand on these road types for the third quarter of 2021, provided the driver remains aware.

New hardware package is required

Autonomous driving is part of the Ford assistance systems grouped under the name Ford Co-pilot360 and, in the case of the Mustang Mach-E, requires the Ford Co-pilot360 Active 2.0 Prep Package to be booked when purchasing the vehicle. So far, the Mustang Mach-E can only be booked, the delivery of first vehicles is planned for 2020. The contingent of the First Edition is already exhausted. Initially, the production capacity is expected to be 50,000 vehicles per year, 30,000 of which are destined for Europe. The Mustang Mach-E is based on the Ford GE1 platform and is produced in Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is an upcoming five-door electric crossover SUV produced

The hardware package consists of several cameras and radars, which serve not only to protect the vehicle itself from other road users. To ensure that driving in the aforementioned environment is actually possible permanently without a grip on the steering wheel, the driver’s attention is permanently monitored by means of an infrared camera in the interior, which detects the direction of view of the eyes and the position of the head, to determine whether the driver is actively monitoring traffic. Only if this is the case can the car be driven by hand. Drivers are informed in the digital instrument cluster if they do not have to pay attention to traffic or if they have to take control of the vehicle again for other reasons.

Active Drive Assist is a paid software update

However, this is only the hardware aspect of the whole, which only becomes complete with the "Active Drive Assist". This is to be offered in the third quarter of 2021 as a paid software update for those vehicles that are equipped with the Ford Co-pilot360 Active 2.0 Prep Package with the required hardware base. The Active Drive Assist is to be offered as an over-the-air update, but can alternatively also be installed by the Ford dealer. If the required hardware is installed, the Active Drive Assist can be ordered for all variants of the Mustang Mach-E, not only the First Edition, Ford also wants the wizard in selected offer other models of the year 2021, which have not yet been specified.

Due to the hands-free driving on motorways and the warning of cross traffic, Ford sees itself in a better position than Tesla with the Model Y, which is also in the class of SUV crossovers. At Tesla, the preparations for this have already been made in terms of hardware, but the steering wheel still needs to be taken regularly.

With the order of the Ford Co-pilot360

Active 2.0 Prep Package"Active Drive Assist is missing at the beginning, but new is also the Active Park Assist 2.0, which automates parallel parking, and with the Park Out Assist also supports parking out of narrow gaps.

Standard package upgrades cruise control

In addition, the Ford Co-pilot360 2.0 Standard Package offers a package with reduced functionality without autonomous driving, which has been upgraded with "Road Edge Detection" and "Blind Spot Assist" in two areas. Road Edge Detection detects the road by means of marking lines or a clear demarcation from asphalt to green strip. The system informs the driver as soon as the driver seems to leave the road. The Blind Spot Assist warns the driver before turning out of the side mirror in front of other vehicles in the blind spot and makes itself noticeable haptically by a small push in the steering wheel.

Ford Mustang Mach-E

In addition, Ford has revised the Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go as part of the standard package, so that it no longer has to be manually activated after just 3 seconds of standstill, but only after 30 seconds.