Ford launches AI chatbot that can check fuel, towing capacity, and maintenance needs

Ford has begun rolling out an AI-powered assistant, allowing Ford and Lincoln owners to ask natural-language questions about their vehicles directly from the company's mobile apps. The chatbot can provide information ranging from fuel requirements for an upcoming trip to towing capacity and maintenance schedules, with an in-car version scheduled to arrive in 2027.

Unlike general-purpose AI assistants, Ford's chatbot is linked directly to the owner's vehicle, giving it access to model-specific information and live telemetry. As a result, it can answer questions about the vehicle's current fuel level, cargo capacity, towing limits, and upcoming service requirements without requiring users to manually look up those details.

The assistant can also interpret information from the vehicle's owner's manual and respond to questions about its features. Ford says owners will even be able to upload photos of trailers, boats, or other cargo to determine whether their vehicle is capable of towing or carrying them safely.

Ford says launching the assistant through its mobile apps will allow it to reach significantly more customers than a vehicle software update. The feature is being rolled out in phases, and the company plans to make it available to approximately 8 million Ford and Lincoln owners.

According to Mike Aragon, Ford's president of integrated services, the long-term goal is to move the assistant from smartphones directly into the vehicle. Rather than relying on Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the company plans to integrate the AI deeply into the dashboard software, allowing it to combine vehicle-specific functions with infotainment features such as navigation, messaging, and media playback.

The company first announced its AI plans earlier this year but did not commit to a single large language model. Instead, Ford designed the assistant to work with multiple AI platforms. In the meantime, vehicles equipped with the Android-based Ford Digital Experience infotainment system will continue to offer Google's Gemini as an optional alternative to Google Assistant.

Ultimately, Ford plans to replace its existing standalone voice assistants with a unified AI system capable of both controlling the vehicle's functions and handling everyday digital tasks through a single conversational interface.

The AI assistant is being offered free of charge during its initial rollout. However, Ford has not confirmed whether it will remain free once it becomes fully integrated into the company's in-car software platform in 2027.