Ford Will Debut Eyes-Off Autonomous Driving in 2028 on Upcoming $30K Electric Pickup

• Ford announced plans at CES 2026 to implement eyes-off Level 3 autonomous driving in 2028.

• The system will arrive on the first vehicle built on the new Universal EV platform, a roughly $30K electric pickup set to enter production in 2027.

• BlueCruise only currently works on 130,000 miles of divided highways, and it’s unclear if the new system will be expanded to include urban settings.

Although Ford has canceled several plans for large EVs, the American automaker is still pushing ahead on electric powertrains, instead focusing on smaller, more affordable vehicles. A new platform, called Universal Electric Vehicle, will underpin a family of new EVs, starting with a small pickup truck that will begin production in 2027 and cost around $30,000. Now, at CES 2026, Ford has announced that its new electric platform will bring eye-off autonomous driving capability in just a few years.

Ford said that it will launch new hardware and software, developed in-house, starting in 2027 on the new Universal Electric Vehicle platform, and that just one year later, the setup will be able to perform Level 3 eyes-off driving. Ford didn’t provide any details on the hardware that will be involved in this next-generation system, including whether the upcoming Universal EV platform will employ lidar sensors or not. However, Automotive News reported that the company is “likely to use” lidar for the new system.

Ford currently offers BlueCruise on several models, including the Explorer, Mustang Mach-E, F-150, and Expedition, as well as several Lincolns. The system currently allows drivers to remove their hands from the wheel, but still requires drivers to keep their eyes focused on the road in case they need to intervene. BlueCruise is also only approved to work on 130,000 miles of divided highway and cannot operate in urban settings.

In a company blog post, Doug Field, Ford’s chief EV, digital, and design officer, said the aim was to “democratize” autonomous driving and put the technology into “the vehicles people actually buy, not just vehicles with unattainable price points.” BlueCruise is currently offered as a subscription, requiring $49.99 per month, $495 per year, or (for certain vehicles) a one-time purchase of $2495 when buying the vehicle. It’s unclear if the Universal EV platform will continue this setup or will result in a change to the pricing structure.