Ford to launch pre-commercial C-V2X functions in first-half 2020

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Ford Motor Company announced on September 6 the plan to launch several pre-commercial C-V2X (cellular vehicle-to-everything)-based functions in China in the first half of 2020.

The services are launched to grasp what Chinese consumers really feel about the C-V2X as part of efforts for exploring the proper methods to commercialize the technology, according to the automaker.

C-V2X is an advanced wireless communications technology that allows vehicles, infrastructure, pedestrians and all traffic participants to “speak the same language” in real time. This technology supplements vehicle sensors and enables vehicles, stoplights, traffic signs, cyclists and pedestrian devices to share information about their status, location and next move.

According to Ford's planning, the automaker will deeply integrate part of C-V2X-based in-car features and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) functions with Ford's new entertainment and vehicle information system “SYNC+”. The integrated fruit will be upgraded through OTA (over-the-air) and afterwards offered to users, who will be allowed to have trial driving on designated roads in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province.

Ford claimed in March, 2019 it planned to begin deploying C-V2X technology in Ford's vehicles in China in 2021.

“Through launching pre-commercial functions, we wish to collect more users' feedback and accumulate experience of commercial operation, so as to get prepared when we start to mass produce our first C-V2X-equipped model in China in 2021,” said Hou Xinhai, Vice President of Information Technology, Mobile Service Platform & Product of Ford Motor (China) Ltd.

The automaker started to test and validate the reliability of pre-commercial V2I functions on public roads of Wuxi in July. From the time being, vehicles in tests have traveled for over 2,000 hours in total, Ford said.