Mirak
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“we’ve retimed the BlueCruise over-the-air update so we can deliver the highest-quality OTA experience possible for customers.”Not that reality makes a difference around there but here is some actual information from Ford sources (not rumors from unidentified dealer service centers, etc.)
https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2021/11/available-or-delayed-ford-bluecruise-confusion-clarified/
Available or delayed? Ford BlueCruise confusion clarified
Jimmy Dinsmore November 3, 2021
When you’re talking about a new technology, especially one that involves hands-free driving, it’s important to get things right the first time. This week, confusion ran rampant through the interwebs regarding Ford’s BlueCruise technology.
The YouTube channel Gears & Gadgets, reported the F-150 it ordered has to wait up to 7 more months for the BlueCruise software to be installed over the air (OTA). Likewise, KBB.com reported “Buyers can still order BlueCruise, but it won’t be active until sometime next year.”
So what gives with Ford’s BlueCruise? Is it available now or not?
Mike Levine, Ford North America Product Communications Director, helped to shed some light.
“We are already delivering BlueCruise functionality in Mustang Mach-E and F-150 models leaving our plants today, and Ford customers will start receiving their BlueCruise hands-free driver assist updates over the air in the first quarter,” he said.
That doesn’t totally clarify things — especially since Ford’s CEO Jim Farley said during an investor’s conference: “We wanted to improve the customer experience. So we pushed it back to Q1.”
That led to irritation among many who had spent money to add BlueCruise hardware and software to their Mustang Mach-Es or their Ford F-150s. For F-150, BlueCruise is available as a part of the Ford Co-Pilot 360 Active 2.0 package for a total of $1,595 – $600 for the software and $995 for the hardware. For the Mustang Mach-E, it’s an available package on the Select trim for $3,200 – $600 for the software and $2,600 for the rest of the package – as part of the larger Comfort and Technology package, which includes features such as a 360-degree camera, heated front seats and heated steering wheel.
So, is BlueCruise available now?
The answer to this question, as confirmed by Levine is yes – for those vehicles that are being built and delivered now or that have just been recently delivered. However, Levine said Ford F-150 and Mustang Mach-E vehicles built prior to the “end of summer and early fall” won’t get the software update until Q1, which means any time between January and March of 2022.
Levine said, “Given the importance of this technology upgrade, we’ve retimed the BlueCruise over-the-air update so we can deliver the highest-quality OTA experience possible for customers.”
Still confused about whether your truck or SUV was built with BlueCruise or will be receiving the update? Check your MyFord Pass app — it’ll let you know if it’s active or not. Plus, well, it just won’t work if you got an earlier build.
Can BlueCruise be updated at a Ford dealer
Waiting until the first quarter could mean March for some, which will inevitably lead to impatience. However, Levine said there is some small hope for frustrated owners without activated BlueCruise.
“Mach-E and F-150 customers who are eager to have BlueCruise capability on their eligible vehicles ahead of the over-the-air updates will be able to receive their upgrades at dealers, also in the first quarter,” he said.
So, for the affected vehicles it’s still a waiting game, but at least owners have some control — and it’s a 2-month wait versus a possible 5-month wait.
The bottom line on Ford’s BlueCruise
We totally understand the frustration among the early adopters of this technology. For those who already took possession of their Mach-E or F-150 with BlueCruise hardware, having to wait until 2022 is a legit source of irritation.
Add that to the fact later builds get the software already loaded, and you can see why some people in the F150gen14 forum and Facebook groups are griping.
We support Ford in rolling out the OTA update in as simple a way as possible, but as is the case with new technology like BlueCruise, there’s already some uncertainty about it, and this only adds to that.
Are you waiting for your BlueCruise OTA or were you one of the lucky ones to get your vehicle already loaded with it? Leave us a comment about your experience with BlueCruise.
This little nugget deserves some sort of trophy for excellence in bullshit marketing spin. Not “delayed” - “retimed”! And it’s never “we need to fix _____” - it’s always “we want to deliver the highest quality experience!”
Bravo, @Ford Motor Company!
