BlueCruise Next-Generation (Eyes-Off 2028) by Ford Motor Company: status and timeline

Milestones

Next · Hardware and software upgrade for hands-off + ramps

Current BlueCruise on 130,000+ highway miles2025Complete.
BlueCruise 1.5 adds automatic lane change2025Complete.
Next-gen BlueCruise development begins2025Complete.
Hardware and software upgrade for hands-off + rampsTarget 2027Current milestone.
Eyes-off Level 3 autonomy targetTarget 2028Not yet reached.

Upcoming

2027Hardware and software upgrade for hands-off + ramps (next)
2027Universal EV Platform launch with BlueCruise 2.0
2028Eyes-off Level 3 autonomy target

Current obstacles

OTA validation and safety certificationEach Eyes-off system update must be validated through real-world testing and regulatory approval from NHTSA.
Lidar reliability and cost at mass productionEyes-off autonomy requires lidar. Ford must source lidar that is reliable, affordable and available in high volumes.

Physics limits

Geofenced operating domainBlueCruise only works on pre-qualified divided highways. City streets, rural roads and unvetted highways are outside the operating domain.
Human attention still required at scaleEven with Eyes-off Level 3, drivers must be ready to resume control. Long disengagement periods can reduce vigilance.

How it works

3 parts

Current System

Hands-free on mapped highways

BlueCruise operates on 130,000+ miles of pre-qualified divided highways. Drivers keep eyes on the road while removing their hands from the wheel.

2027 Upgrade

Automatic ramp navigation

Next-generation system will handle on- and off-ramps autonomously, allowing hands-free operation for entire highway trips.

2028 Target

Eyes-off Level 3 autonomy

The ultimate upgrade targets SAE Level 3, where the driver can remove eyes from the road under certain conditions.

Spec sheet

Spec	BlueCruise Next-Generation (Eyes-Off 2028)
Current BlueCruise Highway Coverage	130,000+ miles^R (reported)
Vehicles with BlueCruise (2025)	1.22M vehicles globally^R (reported)
Cost Reduction vs. Current Generation	30 percent^R (reported)
Fathom Starting Price	$28,350^R (reported)
BlueCruise Hours of Use (2025)	3.8M hours^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

About Ford Motor Company

The team behind BlueCruise Next-Generation (Eyes-Off 2028)

Ford Motor Company

Universal EV Platform, $30k pickup, LFP, assembly-tree

Ford (1903, Dearborn) announced Universal EV Platform $5B initiative in 2025: four-door electric pickup at Louisville, $30k target, 2027 launch. LFP batteries, 20% fewer parts, assembly-tree manufacturing.

$5B invested: $2B for Louisville Plant. Platform designed for cost and speed.
LFP batteries (no cobalt/nickel), 48V onboard, 20% fewer parts.
Assembly-tree manufacturing: parallel sub-assemblies, integrated at end. 40% faster/station, ergonomic gains.

ford.com (opens ford.com)Company profile →

Founded: 1903123 yrs
Headquarters: United States
Status: Public
Valuation: public
Staff: ~190,047Mar 2026
Works in: VehiclesElectric cars
Coverage: 2 programs · 6 updateslatest 6 Aug 2026checked 10 Oct
People: Jim Farley (opens en.wikipedia.org)CEO

Spec

BlueCruise Next-Generation (Eyes-Off 2028)

Current BlueCruise Highway Coverage

130,000+ miles^R (reported)

Vehicles with BlueCruise (2025)

1.22M vehicles globally^R (reported)

Cost Reduction vs. Current Generation

30 percent^R (reported)

Fathom Starting Price

$28,350^R (reported)

BlueCruise Hours of Use (2025)

3.8M hours^R (reported)