Ford and GM want to hit the road with rudderless autonomous cars

Tesla was there early with its Full Self-Driving (FSD), but in the near future it can count on formidable competition from the established order. Ford and General Motors are also working hard on their own software and hardware for fully autonomous cars. General Motors with Super Cruise and Ultra Cruise, Ford with Blue Cruise. Ultra Cruise and a more advanced version of Blue Cruise should eventually make it possible for cars to move through traffic completely independently. In the case of, for example, GM’s Cruise Origin, a kind of autonomous taxi, even without the option for the driver to intervene.

Ford and GM are eager to test this in practice this year, which is why there is now a request with the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Association). Both Ford and GM are asking the NHTSA for permission to send the maximum number of as many as 2,500 autonomous cars without steering wheels and pedals on the road, reports Reuters. Those autonomous cars can undoubtedly still be switched off by the car manufacturers if it does not work properly, but taking control of the wheel yourself is no longer an option in that case. A potentially risky test phase, which the NHTSA must therefore consider.