Lens on Ford's hands-free tech after two crashes

WASHINGTON: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is opening an investigation into Ford Motor's hands-free driving technology BlueCruise after two fatal crashes involving Mustang Mach-E SUVs striking parked vehicles, the agency said on Monday.

The agency's preliminary evaluation into 130,000 2021-2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles is the first step to determine whether the vehicles pose an unreasonable risk to safety.

Ford said it is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to support its investigation.


The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened separate investigations into the two Mach-E crashes, including a February 24 crash of a Ford Mustang Mach-E using BlueCruise which struck the rear of a stationary Honda CR-V on Interstate Highway 10 in San Antonio, Texas, killing the 56-year-old Honda driver.

The NTSB is also probing a March 3 crash in Philadelphia involving a Ford Mach-E, the other crash cited by the NHTSA.

The auto safety regulator said Monday its initial investigation confirmed that BlueCruise was engaged immediately prior to the collision in the Philadelphia crash.