Jennifer Hudson saw the Ford ad and it captured her attention.
Not so much the Mustang Mach-E but, instead, the people inside the electric SUV.
The 30-second spot that first aired in February featured mom and son Arlene Ngalle and Darien Lopez of Austin, Texas, who are both deaf, signing to each other as the vehicle travels down the road. The point of the ad is to highlight the importance of being able to communicate in a car when neither the driver nor the passenger can hear.
Ngalle and her son used to drive in silence. Ford created a TV spot that debuted during the Jimmy Fallon Show ahead of the Super Bowl this year to highlight how using the BlueCruise hands-free, eyes-on-road driving technology can be especially meaningful to families, especially those who need their hands to communicate.
The ad encouraged viewers to stay in mom mode, even when that means hands come off the steering wheel.
How the tech helped mom
Ford BlueCruise is an advanced driving assistance system that pairs a vehicle’s adaptive cruise control system with a lane-centering assistance system and provides hands-free driving capability on more than 100,000 miles of divided highways in the U.S. and Canada, as explained by J.D. Power in its consumer shopping guide. It says:
- Ford BlueCruise uses data from a forward-facing camera and radar units combined with information from the navigation system’s GPS and map database.
- The technology knows when the vehicle is traveling on one of the approved sections of a divided highway, which are called Blue Zones. When the vehicle is in a Blue Zone, it communicates that status via text and blue lighting within the instrumentation.
- The driver activates the technology. If conditions are right, the system will take complete control of the vehicle, allowing the driver to let go of the steering wheel. BlueCruise uses adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-centering assistance, and speed sign recognition systems to handle all acceleration, braking, and steering tasks within the intended lane of travel.
Jennifer Hudson was thrilling
Hudson, an Oscar-winning actress and host of the Jennifer Hudson Show, invited the family onto her show taped in Los Angeles to discuss life challenges, as well as the Ford ad. The six-minute segment aired Wednesday.
“We were absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to appear on Jennifer Hudson’s show,” Ngalle, 35, told the Free Press after the taping via email. “Not only did they create a platform that allowed us to share our unique story about our experience with Ford’s BlueCruise Handsfree Mach-E with the world, but they also made sure that our communication needs were fully met. They personally reached out to me to ask how many interpreters we needed and made sure that everything was arranged to maximize our comfort and convenience.”
She added, “As Deaf individuals, we have often encountered barriers that make it difficult to fully participate in certain activities. They understood our unique needs and worked tirelessly to ensure that we had everything we needed to be successful.”
Hudson’s team also worked with Ford to give the family a Mach-E with BlueCruise. The Vapor Blue Metallic vehicle will be a gift from Ford, the company said. The automaker is in the process of ordering a Premium Mach-E for the family, a value that starts at $50,995, not including additional taxes and fees.
“The experience of receiving an unexpected and generous gift can be incredibly emotional,” Ngalle told the Free Press. “That’s exactly what happened to me recently when I received a big surprise gift that left me speechless and overwhelmed. I couldn’t believe it when I discovered that the gift was a free car! It’s no exaggeration to say that this news was life-changing.”
Turning 16 with dreams of acting
Ngalle, a social media influencer on Instagram known as @ArleneVibesss, is also an actress and model and marketing manager for ASL (American Sign Language) textbooks and materials.
Lopez, who celebrates his 16th birthday Thursday, was thrilled to do the TV ad, his mom said.
He’ll get to practice driving in the Mach-E to obtain his permit and be able to drive it after he gets his license, Ngalle told the Free Press.
“He was starstruck by the experience and thought it was the coolest thing ever to be part of it. As a car enthusiast and aspiring actor, this opportunity was a dream come true for him,” Ngalle said. “Being in this ad for Ford has been an unforgettable experience for my son.”
The mother and son were selected for the ad through a talent agency, Ford said.
As a mom, she said, the BlueCruise feature had a significant impact on her life during the days it took to tape the commercial.
“As a Deaf driver, I used to struggle to have meaningful conversations with my son while driving, but now, with the BlueCruise, we can chat away without worrying about safety or appearing like a reckless driver,” Ngalle said. “With our busy schedules, any chance I get to spend quality time with my teenager is precious, and the BlueCruise has given us more opportunities for that. Our road trips are now stress-free and enjoyable, and we’re both thrilled about it. I can’t recommend this feature enough to all the busy parents out there.”
Consumer Reports named BlueCruise the top-rated active driving assistance program this year, beating Super Cruise by General Motors and Tesla Autopilot.
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Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid