After Google, Ford is planning to test its self driving Ford Fusion Hybrid sedans on the streets of California next year.
The company has enrolled itself in the California Autonomous Vehicle Tester Program that grants permission to automakers to test their autonomous vehicles on public roads.
Ford has been working on autonomous driving technology for the past decade, and the company claims that it's Research and Innovation Center at Palo Alto is the largest automotive manufacturer research center in the region.
The testing is expected to enhance the autonomous vehicle development program of the company and is likely to help the company reach the next level in connectivity, mobility of autonomous vehicles.
Ford has already conducted autonomous vehicle virtual test drive to understand the virtual interaction between an autonomous car and pedestrians.
It has also tested the Sensor fusion technology which detects and track objects in the vehicle's view, fusing information to provide a 360-degree view of the car's surroundings.
The car also features cameras that act like the eye of the vehicle allowing it to sense pedestrians.
Ford president Mark Fields said: "Our Palo Alto team has grown significantly this year, using research and innovation to explore and develop future mobility solutions.
"We're attracting top talent from around the world to join our team in Silicon Valley, including employees from local technology companies and universities who want to make people's lives better by changing the way the world moves."
US is becoming a testing ground for autonomous automakers as Hyundai Motor has also started testing its fully-autonomous Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) in Nevada.
