Ford Establishes Latitude AI, a new Future Automated Driving Technology Unit

Ford Motor Company has established Latitude AI, a wholly owned subsidiary focused on developing a hands-free, eyes-off-the-road automated driving system for millions of vehicles. With the formation of the new unit, Ford adds a leading team of machine learning, robotics, software, sensors, systems engineering and operations talent as the automaker grows and expands its development efforts in automated driving technology.

Sammy Omari, executive director, ADAS Technologies at Ford, will serve as the CEO of Latitude.

Latitude is headquartered in Pittsburgh, with additional engineering hubs in Dearborn, Michigan and Palo Alto, California.

In 2022, Ford hired about 550 employees formerly of Argo AI across machine learning and robotics, cloud platforms, mapping, sensors and compute systems, test operations, systems and safety engineering.

Doug Field, chief advanced product development and technology officer, Ford Motor Company, says: “We see automated driving technology as an opportunity to redefine the relationship between people and their vehicles. Customers using BlueCruise are already experiencing the benefits of hands-off driving. The deep experience and talent in our Latitude team will help us accelerate the development of all-new automated driving technology – with the goal of not only making travel safer, less stressful and more enjoyable, but ultimately over time giving our customers some of their day back."

“We believe automated driving technology will help improve safety while unlocking all-new customer experiences that reduce stress and in the future will help free up a driver’s time to focus on what they choose," adds Omari. “The expertise of the Latitude team will further complement and enhance Ford’s in-house global ADAS team in developing future driver assist technologies, ultimately delivering on the many benefits of automation.”

Ford BlueCruise has already accumulated more than 50 million miles of hands-free driving.