Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free highway driving assistant is rapidly gaining acceptance among drivers, with usage surging to 264 million miles in the U.S. last year alone. This represents an 87% increase from 2024, reflecting a growing appetite for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and the comfort they provide on long drives.
Rising Adoption Rates
Currently, 1.22 million vehicles globally are equipped with BlueCruise, an 80% jump since 2024. The system is now available across Ford’s mainstream lineup – including the Explorer, Expedition, F-150, F-150 Lightning, and Mustang Mach-E – as well as every Lincoln model. This wider availability is a key driver of the increased mileage.
Usage Trends: F-150 Dominates
The F-150 is by far the most popular vehicle for BlueCruise usage, with drivers racking up 118 million miles and logging 1.6 million hours behind the wheel without touching it. The Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning follow, accounting for 50 million and 32 million miles respectively.
The numbers suggest that hands-free driving is not just for long-distance commutes; the majority of trips (over 60%) are under 20 minutes, indicating frequent use even in shorter drives.
Regional Hotspots: California Leads the Way
California leads the nation in BlueCruise usage, with drivers covering 23 million miles last year – a 51% increase from 2024. The state is followed by Michigan, Texas, Florida, and Ohio. The busiest single day for the system was December 27, when drivers collectively logged 18,000 hours and 1.2 million miles.
Future Expansion: BlueCruise 1.5 on the Horizon
Ford is planning to expand BlueCruise’s availability further, adding the feature to four additional models in Europe by 2026. More importantly, the company is rolling out BlueCruise 1.5, which will include an Automatic Lane Change function. This upgrade will launch first on the 2026 Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Nautilus.
The rapid growth of BlueCruise reflects the broader trend toward autonomous driving features. While full self-driving is still years away, drivers are increasingly comfortable relying on ADAS systems for highway travel, and manufacturers like Ford are responding by making these technologies more accessible and capable.
