The system will enable hands-free driving on prequalified sections of divided highways. These eligible zones consist of more than 100,000 miles of roads in North America. The feature combines active cruise control and lane centering to navigate the vehicle down the road. At the same time, Ford tracks the driver’s eye gaze and head position to make sure they’re still paying attention to the road ahead.
The 2021 Ford F-150 and Mustang Mach-E arrive this year, but they won’t get the hands-free capability right away. It’ll be available as an over-the-air update starting in the third quarter of 2021. Early vehicle buyers will start off by purchasing a hardware package, and then add the software update once it arrives. In the second half of 2021, new customers can buy the software and hardware together through the Ford Co-Pilot Active 2.0 package.
For the F-150, the cost is $895 for the hardware and $600 for the software—attractively priced considering the system’s capabilities. Combining both elements, the Ford Co-Pilot 360 Active 2.0 package will cost $1,595. This bundle is standard on the F-150 Limited and available on Lariat, King Ranch, and Premium.
Buyers of the Mustang Mach-E will get Active Drive Assist standard if they go for the CA Route 1, Premium, or First Edition trims. It’s also available on the Select for $3,200 as part of a larger Comfort and Technology package. Ford hopes to sell more than 100,000 F-150 and Mustang Mach-E vehicles with Active Drive Assist hardware in the first year alone.
