Ford announced plans to bring Level 3 self-driving technology to its vehicles by 2028. The system will be developed in-house, a move the company says will cut costs by 30% compared to alternatives. Notably, Apple's software integration is not part of the plan.
Why Ford is going in-house
Building the self-driving stack internally lets Ford avoid licensing fees from outside suppliers. The company claims its in-house system will be 30% cheaper than comparable offerings from third-party developers. That cost advantage could help Ford price Level 3 features more competitively when they launch in 2028.
Many automakers currently rely on partnerships for autonomous driving technology. Ford's decision to keep development inside the company signals a bet that vertical integration will pay off in the long run. The 30% figure is Ford's own estimate; the company hasn't detailed how it arrived at that number.
What Level 3 means for drivers
Level 3 is a specific tier of automated driving defined by SAE International. Under Level 3, the vehicle can handle all driving tasks — steering, acceleration, braking, and monitoring the environment — but only in certain conditions, such as on divided highways. The driver must remain available to take over when the system requests it.
Ford hasn't said which driving scenarios its Level 3 system will cover. The company also hasn't named the first models that will get the technology. The 2028 timeline gives Ford several years to test and refine the system before it reaches customers.
No Apple integration
Despite speculation that Ford might partner with Apple on self-driving software, the company confirmed that Apple's software integration is not part of its Level 3 plan. That means Ford's system will rely entirely on its own code and hardware, without using Apple's CarPlay or any other Apple driving platform.
The decision keeps Ford's autonomous driving stack independent. It also means customers won't get Apple's interface for self-driving features, at least not through this system. Ford may still offer Apple CarPlay for infotainment, but that's separate from the Level 3 technology.
Ford's 2028 target is still years away, and the company will need to navigate regulatory approvals and safety testing before the system can go on sale. The automaker has not yet announced which models will get the self-driving option first.
