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Ford delays launch of robotaxi service to 2022


Ford is pushing back the launch of its forthcoming robotaxi and autonomous delivery services from 2021 to 2022, the company announced today, due to the economic impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The company has spent the last few years testing self-driving prototypes in Miami, Austin, and Washington, DC as it got ready to launch the services, though it hadn’t made any announcements about in which markets it planned to operate.

Ford announced the delay as it revealed its financial results for the first quarter of 2020, which were brutally impacted by the pandemic. The automaker posted a $2 billion loss for the quarter, after having turned a more than $1 billion profit in the first quarter of 2019.

Earlier in the day, Ford and its luxury brand Lincoln announced they were canceling an upcoming electric SUV that was going to be built using tech from EV startup Rivian — another decision that the companies said was made because of the pandemic.

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