Ford Picks Austin For Self-Driving Vehicle Testing

AUSTIN, TX — The Ford Motor Co. has picked Austin as the third city in which to launch a commercial self-driving vehicle expected to be on the roads by 2021, according to reports.

CNBC reported Ford and self-driving technology partner Argo A1 will start mapping out the city by mid-November with testing of the Ford Fusion hybrid autonomous vehicle launched as early as next year. Company officials previously reported Miami-Dade County and Washington, D.C. as the other two cities for such testing.

Ford's CEO for its autonomous vehicle unit, Sherif Marakby, told CNBC that Austin was tapped for the testing given the city's willingness to work with the company as it deals with brisk population growth and, subsequently, increased traffic congestion.

"With increased traffic, we think we can solve some issues and work with the city on understanding what the challenges are in the city,” Marakby told reporters Tuesday during a conference call, the news outlet reported.

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