Ford to test self-driving cars in Washington, DC

On Monday, Ford announced a partnership with the city in early 2019. Ford's self-driving car startup, AI Argo, has already begun mapping the city. So far, self-driving cars have been tested mainly in suburbs and smaller cities.

Ford officials told CNN Business they were drawn to Washington DC because of its progressive mayor and a young population, which is likely to embrace new technologies such as autonomous vehicles. DC has been one of the earliest cities to embrace other transportation inventions such as dockless e-bikes and scooters.

Deputy Mayor Brian Kenner told CNN Business is not about job displacement.

"With new technology, we are always looking for new opportunities for job diversification and job growth, we're happy about that," Kenner said.

But DC will prove a serious challenge for Ford's vehicles. Driving in cities is significantly harder than suburbs or highways. The environment is more complex because of pedestrians, cyclists and scooter riders.

The District of Columbia is effectively a city, county and state all in one, which means it faces the layers of regulations and potential hurdles ahead of launch.

Kenner said the city was convinced the vehicles would work safely. Ford's protocol calls for self-driving vehicles to a test driver behind the wheel, and a colleague in the passenger seat.

The safety of new vehicles However, the District of Columbia will not require Ford to report when its vehicles are in crashes.

For residents and tourists eager to ride in a self-driving vehicle, they'll have to be patient. Ford is not planning to offer any wrinkles before hailing service launches in 2021.

"Sherif Marakby, Ford's president of autonomous vehicles said. "We need to understand, where do [autonomous vehicles] made? Hopefully they'll do someplace. We believe they will. "