Auto manufacturer Ford is the latest company to receive a permit from California regulators that allows the company to test its autonomous cars on public highways. The regulatory framework was provided by the California Autonomous Vehicle Testing Program.
Ford will be testing the Ford Fusion Hybrid sedans. The car was developed by Ford Research and Innovation Center located in Palo Alto, California. The Detroit-based car manufacturer claims that at least 100 engineers and researchers are currently working to improve its autonomous car technology.
This is not the first time that Ford is launching a test drive for its autonomous cars. The company is already testing fully autonomous cars on public roads in Romeo, Michigan and Mittmann, Arizona. Ford is also testing some of its prototype at MCity, a 23-acre simulated environment located at the University of Michigan.
The latest test in California is part of Ford's autonomous vehicle program called Ford Smart Mobility. The 10-year initiative involves building and designing autonomous cars, as well as integrate Internet connection into existing models. The project is also experimenting with different forms of transformation and the use of big data analytics in the development of the car industry, according to Fortune.
It appears that California is the most popular testing grounds for autonomous cars. Experts believe that the state's established regulation towards self-driving cars and its vast amount of technical talent make it the most sought-after location to test and develop autonomous cars.
Ford joins the growing number of automakers who have received testing permits in California. Existing carmakers with permit to test their own self-driving cars include Honda, Volkswagen, Nissan, BMW, Google, Tesla and Nissan, according to The Verge.