Ford to roll out 'BlueCruise' hands-free driving system in 2021

Ford's new hands-free self-driving suite has a shiny new name and a release date, the company announced Friday. BlueCruise will be made available on the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover and F-150 later in 2021 to compete with GM's Super Cruise and Tesla's Autopilot/Full Self-Driving suites.

BlueCruise will be offered as an upgrade to the existing Co-Pilot360 system that has been bundled on the 2021 Mach-E and F-150. It offers true, hands-free operation in designated highway "Blue Zones," of which there are 100,000 miles so far in North America, and Ford validated its new system by driving them all in what the company is calling the "Mother of All Road Trips."

"There are highway intricacies and driving conditions that you simply cannot replicate in a lab," said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford chief product platform and operations officer. "Sending these vehicles out for real-world driving experience is just one of many ways we ensured that BlueCruise technology offers confidence and convenience for drivers all across the continent."