Ford is expanding assisted driving into more demanding situations with hands-free towing systems designed for drivers pulling boats, trailers, and campers. Debuting on the 2027 F-150, BlueCruise with Towing allows hands-free, eyes-on driving across nearly 210,000 kilometres of pre-qualified divided highways. The feature adapts Ford’s existing BlueCruise technology for the added dynamics of towing and will be available across multiple equipped trims, including the XLT, Tremor, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum.
Extending hands-free assistance to towing addresses a practical need among truck owners, with Ford reporting that more than 75% of F-150 customers use their vehicles to tow. Making the capability available beyond premium trims could also broaden adoption of BlueCruise subscriptions. The feature gives Ford another way to differentiate its high-volume pickup lineup as driver-assistance technology expands from everyday highway travel into specialized vehicle tasks.
Image Credit: Ford
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Assisted Towing Automation
- Advanced driver-assistance systems are moving into complex hauling scenarios, creating openings for software that manages trailer sway, lane positioning, and long-distance towing comfort.
- Subscription-based Vehicle Features
- Automakers are turning specialized capabilities into recurring revenue products, with towing-focused hands-free driving expanding the value of connected vehicle subscriptions.
- Mass-market Autonomy
- Hands-free technologies are shifting beyond luxury models into high-volume truck trims, signaling wider potential for accessible automation in everyday commercial and recreational use.
Where This Applies
- Automotive Technology
- The integration of towing-specific autonomy highlights demand for adaptive sensing, mapping, and control systems tailored to heavier and more variable vehicle configurations.
- Recreational Vehicles
- Campers, boats, and trailers increasingly intersect with assisted driving platforms, opening space for compatible equipment designs and connected towing ecosystems.
- Pickup Truck Manufacturing
- Competitive differentiation in trucks is expanding from power and payload toward intelligent driving support, reshaping how manufacturers position utility-focused vehicles.
