Let’s rewind 100 years back to 1913 when times were simpler and you could get a stick of gum for less than a nickel. Henry Ford instated the first moving assembly line in order to mass-produce the entire Model T automobile in a total of two and a half hours. Saving nearly 10 hours in production time, a revolution in efficiency and automation began.
Now fast forward to the present and Ford is looking to change the way the world moves yet again with the intention to mass-produce fully autonomous SAE level 4 vehicles by 2021. Level 4 is the stage at which cars are designed and assured to conduct all safety-critical driving functions, which leaves the car with the majority of control. In doing so, Ford would open a wealth of possibilities for ride-hailing or ride-sharing services like Uber, Lyft, or a yet to be discovered company.
In order to achieve that goal, Ford is working together with and investing in four startups that will help in progressing autonomous vehicle development. The company is also looking to improve its Silicon Valley performance by constructing two new buildings and adding 150,000 square feet of work and lab space next to the already huge Research and Innovation Center. They even plan to expand the Palo Alto team twofold by 2017 to promote the growth and success of the project.
Adhering to the principles of its founder, Ford continues to innovate and change the way the world moves in this modern age of ours.
Now fast forward to the present and Ford is looking to change the way the world moves yet again with the intention to mass-produce fully autonomous SAE level 4 vehicles by 2021. Level 4 is the stage at which cars are designed and assured to conduct all safety-critical driving functions, which leaves the car with the majority of control. In doing so, Ford would open a wealth of possibilities for ride-hailing or ride-sharing services like Uber, Lyft, or a yet to be discovered company.
In order to achieve that goal, Ford is working together with and investing in four startups that will help in progressing autonomous vehicle development. The company is also looking to improve its Silicon Valley performance by constructing two new buildings and adding 150,000 square feet of work and lab space next to the already huge Research and Innovation Center. They even plan to expand the Palo Alto team twofold by 2017 to promote the growth and success of the project.
Adhering to the principles of its founder, Ford continues to innovate and change the way the world moves in this modern age of ours.
