Ford Says Making Self-Driving Tech in-House Cheaper Than Licensing

Core Viewpoint - Ford is developing autonomous driving capabilities, including eyes-off driving, expected to be ready for public roads by 2028, and believes in-house development of self-driving technology will be more cost-effective than outsourcing to suppliers [1]. Group 1: Cost Efficiency and In-House Development - Ford claims that owning the technology for its driver assistance systems allows it to deliver significantly more capability at a 30% lower cost compared to purchasing from outside suppliers [2]. - The company emphasizes that in-house development provides greater oversight on sensor utilization and integration into vehicles, enhancing performance and cost-effectiveness [6]. - By reducing the number of separate computer modules in vehicles to a single unit, Ford aims to achieve smaller, cheaper, and higher-performing systems [7][8]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape and Partnerships - Ford acknowledges the presence of competitors in the ADAS licensing market, such as Nvidia, Waymo, and Wayve, and previously partnered with Mobileye to develop its ADAS software, BlueCruise [8]. - Leading EV companies like Tesla and Rivian have also adopted in-house approaches for self-driving technology, with Rivian recently designing its own silicon chip for autonomous driving [9]. - However, Ford has no plans to develop its own chips and prefers to work with existing suppliers, focusing on volume rather than custom silicon [10].