When did Ford introduce park assist?
Ford introduced its Active Park Assist feature in the 2013 model year, with initial availability on the Fusion and Escape and a gradual rollout across its lineup in the years that followed.
What Park Assist Means for Ford
Park Assist, known in Ford literature as Active Park Assist, lets the car help steer into parking spaces while the driver controls speed. It supports parallel and perpendicular parking in many markets and relies on a suite of sensors and steering assist.
How it works
In general, the system scans for suitable spaces while the driver indicates a desire to park; the car then steers itself into the space while the driver manages throttle and brake. Some versions require driver confirmation.
Timeline of Introduction
Below is a concise timeline showing when Ford first introduced park assist and how it expanded across models and years.
- 2013 model year: Active Park Assist debuted on select Ford models, with initial availability on the Fusion and Escape, enabling automated steering to park in parallel spaces.
- 2014–2015: The feature expanded to additional Ford models and trim levels as part of new driver-assist packages.
- Late 2010s onward: The system was updated with perpendicular-parking support and broader model coverage in the U.S. and Europe, as market and trim-package offerings allowed.
These milestones reflect Ford's gradual rollout of automated parking features across its model range, varying by market and trim level.
Current Status and Variants
Today, Ford continues to offer Active Park Assist and related parking aids across many vehicles, sometimes under evolving branding. The exact availability depends on model, year, trim, and region, with newer vehicles often including enhanced camera views and sensor suites to support parking maneuvers.
Conclusion
Ford's park-assist technology began in 2013, marking the brand's entry into automated parking assistance and paving the way for broader integration across its lineup in subsequent years.
Summary
Ford introduced Active Park Assist in the 2013 model year, initially on the Fusion and Escape, with a broader rollout to more models in the years that followed.
Why did Ford remove park assist?
The module was removed during covid because of the chip shortage, the park assist wasnt used much by users so they stopped implementing it but left the button in the car...
Which Ford vehicles have hands-free driving?
F-150®
- Mustang Mach-E® SUV. Available on: All trims of 2025, 2024 and 2023 Mustang Mach-E® SUVs. less.
- Expedition® Available on 2024 Ford Expedition Platinum® and Platinum MAX and on all 2025 Expedition models. less.
- F-150 Lightning® Available on: 2022-2024 Ford F-150® LARIAT® and Platinum® and 2024 Flash™. less.
What year did park assist come out?
2006
In an effort to ease this stress, park assist systems were first introduced in the U.S. market in 2006. The early systems ulized ultra‐sonic sensors and a sophiscated camera to determine the size of the parking space and accurately back the vehicle into the spot.
Which Ford models have park assist?
Ford models that offer Active Park Assist include the Bronco, Expedition, F-150, F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E, Ranger, and some older models like the Edge and Fusion. However, availability is not standard on all trims and may vary by model year and trim level. Some models, such as the 2025 Escape and Explorer, have discontinued the feature.
Models with Active Park Assist
- Bronco: Available on select trims.
- Expedition: Available on certain models, with newer models (like all 2025 trims) making it more widely available.
- F-150: Available on various trims.
- F-150 Lightning: Available on select models.
- Mustang Mach-E: Available on all 2023-2025 trims.
- Ranger: Available on the 2024 model and beyond.
- Older models: Some versions of the Edge and Fusion previously offered the feature.
What to keep in mind
- Model year and trim: Check the specific model and trim you are interested in, as availability varies.
- Discontinued features: Some models have removed the feature in recent years. For example, the 2025 Escape and Explorer have dropped Active Park Assist 2.0.
- Parking assist level: Ford offers different versions, such as the standard system and the more advanced Active Park Assist 2.0, which can include more automated features like parallel park out.
