Ford made the futuristic concept of hands-free driving a possibility for the vehicle owners of today when they introduced Ford BlueCruise to North America, and now the company is doing it once again and breaking ground in Europe. As of a recent announcement, Ford BlueCruise technology has been given regulatory approval from the UK’s Department for Transport for use on the motorway network in Great Britain.
“It is great news that Ford has chosen us for the European launch of its BlueCruise technology, and I am delighted that this country is once more at the forefront of innovation,” said Jesse Norman, UK Transport Minister. “The latest advanced driver assistance systems make driving smoother and easier, but they can also help make roads safer by reducing scope for driver error.”
Ford BlueCruise is the first technology of its kind to be approved for European use, making it a major groundbreaker on the other side of the pond. Over 2,300 miles of road in England, Scotland, and Wales have been mapped and designated as Hands-Free Blue Zones, ready to be used by British drivers with BlueCruise-equipped vehicles.
“It’s not every day that you can say you’ve placed one foot in the future, but Ford BlueCruise becoming the first hands-free driving system of its kind to receive approval for use in a European country is a significant step forward for our industry,” said Martin Sander, general manager, Ford Model e, Europe. “Modern highways can be demanding even for the most confident drivers, and intimidating for many. BlueCruise can do some of the ‘heavy lifting’, to make highway driving less of a chore, and give drivers that little extra confidence and convenience.”
Currently BlueCruise is available in the UK primarily on the 2023 Mustang Mach-E. The capability is included free with the purchase of the vehicle for the first 90 days, after which time it requires a subscription fee of £17.99 per month.
“Today marks a significant moment for our industry as Ford BlueCruise becomes the first hands-free driving system of its kind to receive approval for use in Great Britain,” said Lisa Brankin, managing director, Ford UK & Ireland. “We have always strived to make technology accessible for our customers, and BlueCruise is the next step on this journey, making motorway driving a more comfortable experience.”
As other countries in Europe approve the use of the technology and more roads across the continent are mapped, Ford BlueCruise will continue to become available for European customers. American customers already have access to thousands of miles worth of Blue Zones, so if you’re interested in trying out Blue Cruise for yourself, make sure you check out our inventory at Haldeman Ford in Hamilton, NJ to see what we have in stock!
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