Ford set to test self-driving vehicles in Washington in 2019

By Sean Galea-Pace
The US automotive giant, Ford, has confirmed a partnership with the Washington DC government to commence testing of self-driving cars at the beginning o...

The US automotive giant, Ford, has confirmed a partnership with the Washington DC government to commence testing of self-driving cars at the beginning of 2019, CNN Business reports.

The company’s self-driving car startup, Argo AI, has begun to map out the city with Washington selected due to its progressive mayor and young population.

Washington is due to become the second city after Miami to trial Ford’s self-driving vehicles, with the company planning to unveil the full service in 2021.

Speaking to CNN Business, Deputy Mayor Brian Kenner said: “With new technology, there's always new opportunities for job diversification and job growth. If we're able through this pilot to create a new pipeline for District residents to fill these new jobs, we're happy about that.”

See more:

It is expected that Ford will operate across the entire city as oppose to just in the more affluent areas of Washington.

As part of the agreement, Ford confirmed it would partner with a workforce training centre in a poorer part of the city in order to help hire new test drivers to monitor the cars.

The city is regarded as one of the most progressive in America and has embraced other transportation enhancements such as dockless e-bikes and scooters in recent times.

Share

Featured Articles

ProGlove & topsystem Revolutionise Logistics Solutions

ProGlove & topsystem team up to elevate data capture in manufacturing. Pierre Mikaelsson, CPO at ProGlove, tells us more about innovations in automation

Car Manufacturers Urged to prioritise Inclusive Driving

Matthew Walker of ABC Mobility Group says car manufacturers must ensure disabled drivers’ independence is not compromised by new cybersecurity regulations

Digitising Supply Chains for Due Diligence & Trade

Brent Dawkins, Product Marketing Director at QAD, discusses digital due diligence & why manufacturers must prioritise compliance in today's trade landscape

GTK: IoT, Sustainability & Touchscreen Tech in Manufacturing

AI & Automation

Jabil: Insights on Sustainable Manufacturing Progress Report

Sustainability & ESG

The Impact of NCSA on Manufacturing & the Supply Chain

Procurement & Supply Chain