Written by Cláudio Afonso | [email protected] | LinkedIn | X
Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed on Monday that the driver of an electric Ford Mustang Mach-E involved in a fatal crash earlier this year was utilizing the automaker’s self-driving technology known as “Blue Cruise.”
The incident occurred in San Antonio, Texas, on February 24. The NTSB’s preliminary report confirmed the use of Ford’s technology at the time of the accident.
“All aspects of the crash remain under investigation as the NTSB determines the probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar crashes,” NTSB added.
Ford’s Blue Cruise technology features Lane change assist, in-lane repositioning from the 1.2 version, and enhanced performance starting from version 1.3. The latest helps drivers to stay hands-free for a longer period as the car performs “narrow lanes and curves”, Ford says on its website.
Earlier this month, Ford Motor announced a 6.8% increase in first-quarter U.S. auto sales and a remarkable 86% surge in electric vehicle sales, totaling 20,223 units sold during the first quarter of 2024.
Hybrid sales surged by 42% in the first quarter, totaling 38,421 vehicles and the company anticipates growth in hybrid sales “with the imminent arrival of additional variants of the new F-150 hybrid at dealerships”. Sales of the Maverick Hybrid soared by 77% compared to the previous year, with 19,660 units sold.
Written by Cláudio Afonso | [email protected] | LinkedIn | X
