Ford and all other players currently appear to significantly trail Google in developing software for autonomous vehicles. However, Ford has decades of experience in car hardware. While Ford’s permit is only for one vehicle, it says it may add more down the road. Ford’s tests in California will start with planning driving routes, which it says will include everything from highways to city streets. It will be mapping the roads — 3D maps are widely considered invaluable to guiding autonomous vehicles — and says it will drive autonomously in the second half of 2016.