Ford’s Level 3 highway driver-assist arrives in 2028, built on a new EV platform with lidar

Ford says it will roll out a Level 3 driver-assistance system in 2028 that, on select highways, will let drivers take their hands off the wheel and stop constantly watching the road. The company frames the feature strictly for highway use, where traffic is more predictable, while city streets remain far tougher thanks to pedestrians, cyclists, and sudden surprises. It is a cautious, pragmatic boundary that reflects where the tech is most at ease today.

The first vehicles equipped with Level 3 will ride on a new electric platform developed by a dedicated team in California. Ford intends to extend the system to other models over time but is not yet naming the debut vehicle. The platform itself is set to launch with a midsize electric pickup in 2027, targeting a price around $30,000 and promising a more advanced software architecture than the brand’s current lineup. The pricing goal sounds ambitious for the segment, hinting at a push for scale and broader adoption.

Level 3 will not be standard on more affordable versions. Ford is upfront that it will be a paid option, with the business model still under discussion—potentially a subscription or a one-time purchase. On the hardware side, the automaker is leaning on lidar as a cornerstone for Level 3 capability and, in parallel, bringing more development in-house to cut supplier dependence and speed up updates and quality improvements. The emphasis on lidar underscores a preference for robust sensing as the company steps into conditional automation.

In the wider market context, Ford is moving with the broader trend: carmakers increasingly view advanced driver aids as a future revenue stream and a stepping stone toward higher levels of autonomy.