American Truck Simulator has expanded beyond tractor-trailers on Steam. The released Road Trip: Ford DLC unlocks Car Mode and four licensed Ford vehicles, then connects them to short courier jobs, free-form exploration, the Atlas discovery system and shared Convoy sessions. It is a new way to use the same road network, not a decorative vehicle pack that leaves the simulator’s structure untouched.
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Car Mode changes the scale of familiar roads
The four drivable vehicles are the 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback, 2023 Ford F-150, 2023 Ford Bronco and 1998-2012 Ford Crown Victoria. Their lower seating position, shorter wheelbase and different acceleration make highways, city junctions and dirt roads read differently from the cab of an articulated truck. A route that once revolved around trailer clearance can now be approached as a compact road trip with quicker stops and a closer view of roadside detail.
SCS has not separated this experience into a small standalone map. Car Mode operates inside American Truck Simulator and uses the states a player already owns. That decision gives the DLC immediate breadth while preserving the value of previous map purchases. It also means the first sensible step is to revisit a known route and learn how the new vehicles react before planning a long cross-country run.
Small deliveries create a separate progression loop
Cars can accept lighter assignments through Quick Jobs and the Dispatch Market. These jobs build a courier reputation instead of pretending that a Mustang or Bronco should perform the same work as an eighteen-wheeler. The distinction matters: the player still has a reason to choose a destination and manage time, but the load and handling suit the vehicle on screen.
A short contract is also a practical introduction to Car Mode. It places a destination on the map, exposes the driver to fuel use and traffic, and provides a clear end point without asking for a long-haul commitment. Players who prefer unstructured travel can ignore that loop, while those who need a purpose between discoveries have a progression path that fits the scale of the vehicle.
| Road Trip feature | What is available now |
|---|---|
| Ford vehicles | 1967 Mustang Fastback, 2023 F-150, 2023 Bronco, 1998-2012 Crown Victoria |
| Work | Quick Jobs and Dispatch Market courier deliveries |
| Exploration | Atlas, Tourist Boards and collectible postcards |
| Multiplayer | Convoy sessions with cars and trucks on the same roads |
| PC access | Steam DLC requiring American Truck Simulator |
Atlas turns exploration into a record rather than a detour
The Atlas feature identifies landmarks, presents Tourist Boards and awards collectible postcards. At launch, those boards cover California plus the Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota expansions. Other states are intended to receive support later, so the current coverage depends on the map DLC in the player’s library.
Atlas is not restricted to cars. Owning Road Trip: Ford also unlocks the feature while driving a truck. That makes the system useful to players who buy the DLC for exploration but still spend most of their time hauling freight. A discovered location can therefore become part of either career instead of living in a menu that only one mode can access.
Customization is focused on recognizable road cars
Each Ford can be adjusted with accessories and paint options. The important point is readability rather than sheer part count: the Mustang, pickup, off-road Bronco and Crown Victoria begin with clearly different identities. A player can personalize a vehicle without erasing the role that made it interesting in the first place.
The F-150 and Bronco naturally invite rougher routes, while the Mustang makes a long paved run feel different from a delivery shift. The Crown Victoria adds a large sedan to the set rather than repeating another modern utility vehicle. Together they provide four distinct reasons to leave the truck at the garage, which is stronger than filling the pack with minor variations of one body style.
Convoy sessions can mix trucks and cars
Road Trip works in Convoy mode, where friends can share the road even when some choose trucks and others choose cars. Mixed groups should agree on a pace before departure because braking distance, acceleration and fuel stops no longer affect everyone equally. The car driver can scout a junction, but should not force a loaded truck into constant attempts to catch up.
This mixed traffic also gives role-playing groups a useful structure. One player can run the main freight contract while another follows in a support vehicle or explores a nearby landmark.
The game does not turn that arrangement into a rigid class system, leaving the group free to decide whether the car is a companion, a scout or simply another traveler on the same route.
