Ford plans AV transport in Austin in 2021

278 Ford Motor is to launch an autonomous vehicle (AV) transportation service in Austin, Texas, by 2021.

<%$Linker:2External<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary />000link-external Reutersfalsehttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-ford-self-driving-austin/ford-self-driving-cars-to-launch-in-austin-in-2021-idUSKBN1WA1RPfalsefalse%> says Ford is testing a self-driving system - developed with Argo AI, an AV technology company backed by Ford - in its Fusion Hybrid sedans.

Sherif Marakby, chief executive of Ford autonomous vehicles, says the company is planning to launch the service using hybrids that can carry either people or goods.

Argo AI says teams will manually drive the Fusion test vehicles to map the city’s streets and assess driver and pedestrian behaviour.  

Ford also intends to launch the AV service in Miami and Washington, DC.

Earlier this year, Ford expanded its AV and electric vehicle alliance with Volkswagen in a move to integrate Argo AI’s self-driving system into thousands of purpose-built vehicles.