ADAS Ford in 'No-hands' Land by Sebastian Blanco BlueCruise hands-free driver-assist is available later this year for the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 pickup. technology that the automaker isn't revealing just yet. But at least it now has a name - BlueCruise - and some preliminary pricing details. As an SAE Level 2 driver-assist technology, BlueCruise is the next step from Ford's Co-Pilot360 technology that was announced last year and launched on two of the company's highest-profile models: the Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle (EV) and the 2021 F-150. With BlueCruise, Co-Pilot360 will support hands-free driving, Ford's first foray into this next level of assisted driving. For owners who already have one of these " properly equipped " vehicles - which means there's a driver-facing camera installed - BlueCruise will be available as an over-the-air (OTA) update sometime in the third quarter of this year. The cost of BlueCruise varies by model and trim level. There are two components to the product: a hardware prep kit and the OTA software, which includes a subscription fee. The " prep kit " amounts to the installation of a driver-facing camera when the vehicle is built; there is no way to retrofit a model with the necessary camera, Ford said. The $600 cost for the software allows owners to use BlueCruise for three years. Ford is not saying how much it will charge BlueCruise buyers to use the system after the initial 36-month period. Ford also is not yet detailing other models that will offer BlueCruise, but OTA updates will add new capabilities in the coming years. Ford hopes to sell more than 100,000 vehicles with BlueCruise in the first year the technology is available. Indicator of readiness for BlueCruise operation in the Mustang Mach-E. 24 May 2021 AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE ENGINEERING Ford There's a whole lot about Ford's hands-free driving