Ford is absolutely revolutionizing the auto and rideshare industries alongside Lyft and Argo AI by collaboratively commercializing autonomous ride hailing at scale.
All three bring unique expertise to deliver an exceptional experience for drivers. Logan Green, Lyft co-founder and CEO noted that this collaboration was momentous as it was the first time all the pieces of the autonomous vehicle puzzle have come together in this specific way making it a hallmark for ride hailing. It's true—for the first time, each company is bringing advanced knowledge and capability to turn autonomous ride-hailing into a business reality.
Ford has worked hard to ensure self-driving vehicles are deployed at scale while ensuring a great experience for customers. The motor company is even working closely with city leaders to provide uniquely valuable mobility solutions based on each city's needs.
Ford and Argo AI will work together to deploy these Ford self-driving cars, with safety drivers, via the Lyft network. Passenger rides will begin in Miami as early as later this year, followed by Austin beginning in 2022.
All three of these companies hold a shared belief that autonomous vehicles will not only be a key enabler for a cleaner environment, but also a "safer and more efficient urban mobility landscape," Scott Griffith, CEO, Ford Autonomous Vehicles & Mobility Businesses noted. He went on to add that this is just the beginning of an integral relationship between three forward thinking companies whose utmost goal is to "deliver a trusted, high-quality experience for riders in a multi-city large scale operation over time."
Using localized safety and market data, Argo AI will be able to analyze and overcome some of the challenges faced by other autonomous vehicle companies.
Initially, only Lyft users within a specifically outlined service area will be able to select a Ford self-driving car for an upcoming ride. This initial deployment will lay the groundwork for further scaling of operations. In the next five years, the parties will work to deploy over 1,000 autonomous vehicles via the Lyft network. This experience will be accessible across multiple markets, giving several communities the opportunity to try out this seamless experience.
This collaboration will completely change the ride hailing scene by improving the affordability, safety, and accessibility to transportation in our cities. The future is happening now!
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