Barcelona, Spain — February 28, 2016 — Ford President and CEO Mark Fields told the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that the company will triple engineering investment in driver assist technology, speeding the roll-out of semi‑automated systems.
Fields delivered the keynote at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, focusing on Ford’s transition from an automotive company to an auto and a mobility company through “Ford Smart Mobility,” the company’s plan to be a leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, customer experience, and data and analytics.
“As we look to the future, it is clear we are on the cusp of a revolution in mobility, from car sharing to autonomous driving to the customer experience,” Fields said. “Technology and innovation provide us with the opportunity to address these trends and to make people’s lives better by changing the way the world moves.”
Ford is tripling its driver assist technology engineering investment to make it easier to drive in heavy traffic and park, while developing fully autonomous vehicles for the future.
Traffic Jam Assist helps the driver with steering, braking and acceleration in heavily congested traffic situations on motorways. The system helps keep the vehicle centered in the lane and brakes and accelerates to keep pace with the vehicle in front.
Fully Active Park Assist will help drivers by steering and controlling the transmission, throttle and brake to pull into a parking spot at the touch of a button.
Further semi-autonomous technologies already introduced by Ford include Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, a camera- and radar-based system that detects vehicles and people in the road ahead; and Intelligent Speed Limiter, which could help prevent drivers from exceeding speed limits.
Ford is the first automaker to test fully autonomous vehicles in winter weather, including snow, and recently announced plans to triple the company’s autonomous vehicle development fleet.
