Mapping Company eMapgo Will Help Power Ford's BlueCruise Autonomous Driving Feature on Vehicles Sold in China

author: FutureCar Staff    

The Mach-E in China will offer Ford's BlueCruise automated driving feature, which will use mapping technology provided by eMapgo.

Chinese spatial-temporal intelligence big data services company Luokung Technology Corp a provider of interactive location-based services (LBS) and high-definition maps (HD Maps) in China, announced that its affiliate eMapgo will provide mapping services for two new Ford vehicle models for the China market, the Ford EVOS and Mustang Mach-E electric SUV. 

eMapgo's mapping services cover the majority of highways in mainland China. The maps recieve regular over-the-air updates, so they are always up to date and ready for use.

Luokung Technology Corp. is a leading spatial-temporal intelligent big data services company, as well as a leading provider of LBS and HD Maps for various other industries in China. Luokung's mapping technology serves smart transportation industries, such as autonomous driving, smart highway and vehicle-road collaboration and remote sensing data services. 

Luokung acquired eMapgo in March 2021.

The HD maps developed by eMapgo include semantic details not found on standard digital maps used by millions of drivers for turn-by-turn driving directions. The highly detailed 3D maps used to support autonomous driving include the exact position of lane markings, road signs, crosswalks, curbs and other infrastructure. 

With the eMapgo partnership, Ford would not be able to obtain these detailed, high level maps of China's roadways on its own. The "Surveying and Mapping Law of the People's Republic of China" amended in August 2002, limits how new maps can be created in China. 

Luxury automaker Audi is also using the mapping services of eMapGo for its vehicles in China. Tesla uses maps provided by Baidu for its vehicles sold in China.

Ford intended to launch BlueCruise in its U.S. vehicles in 2021, but the automaker said it delayed the rollout to push out the necessary over-the-air-updates to properly equipped vehicles in order for the system to work safely.

Ford's BlueCruise is similar to Tesla's Autopilot and Supercruise from General Motors. The system offers driver supervised, hand-free driving on highways. 

These advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) systems control the steering to keep a vehicle centered in a lane and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. More advanced versions can change lanes to pass slower moving vehicles.  

BlueCruise is considered to be SAE Level-2 autonomous driving systems, which require driver supervision at all times.

Ford started deliveries of the Mach-E to customers in China in December. 

Ford operates a 50/50 joint venture in China with Changan Automobile named "Changan Ford". The locally produced Mach E is being manufactured at Changan Ford's manufacturing plant in Chongqing. The joint venture company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in the city of Chongqing. 

FutureCar Staff