Whereas Stellantis backed away from its SAE Stage 3 ambitions in 2025 claiming weak demand, Ford goes all-in. By Stewart Burnett
One other international automaker has hopped on board with eyes-off autonomy: Ford introduced on 7 January it will deploy an SAE Stage 3 system in 2028, permitting drivers to take their arms off the wheel and eyes from the street below particular situations. The Stage 3 system will debut on Ford’s new electrical automobile platformthe primary mannequin of which shall be a midsize pickup priced round US$30,000.
Chief Electrical Automobile Officer Doug Subject confirmed to Reuters that the superior functionality is not going to be included on the base worth level; observe that the midsize pickup launches in 2027, one yr forward of the Stage 3 launch. As a substitute, the function shall be an add-on, requiring extra cost both within the type of an ongoing subscription or a one-time buy upfront buy. Ford has but to verify pricing constructions both approach, however emphasised that the overarching purpose is to make the expertise inexpensive. Subject famous that Ford nonetheless has time to ascertain closing pricing forward of the 2028 launch window.
By way of strategy, Ford is pursuing in-house autonomous driving improvement with decreased provider reliance to decrease prices, enhance software program replace velocity and improve high quality. The automaker plans to include LiDAR distant sensing expertise to assist the Stage 3 system—eschewing the digital camera vision-only strategy extra widespread amongst automakers prioritising affordability.
Again in October, Common Motors unveiled a comparable plan for eyes-off autonomous driving, starting 2028 on its Cadillac Escalade IQ electrical automobile. Notably, the Escalade IQ will value a number of occasions greater than Ford’s as-yet-untitled funds pickup: US$125,000. In the meantime, Mercedes-Benz already provides highway-only SAE Stage 3 functionality in sure US states together with California and Nevada.
Different international gamers have backed away from Stage 3. Stellantis shelved its AutoDrive programme in August 2025, regardless of claiming deployment readiness in February. Sources indicated to Reuters on the time that the cancellation was everlasting—not a postponement because of the officially-stated excessive prices or restricted market demand.
Ford additionally took the chance at CES 2026 to stipulate plans for an AI assistant launching via cellular functions early in 2026, adopted by in-vehicle integration throughout 2027. The system is purportedly able to analysing photographs to calculate cargo capability or trailer towing compatibility.
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