SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VIRTUALLY HITCHING AND ALIGNING A FOLLOWING VEHICLE TO A LEAD VEHICLE

Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving initiating hitchless towing between a lead vehicle and a following vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes in response to initiating hitchless towing between a lead vehicle and a following vehicle, generating a hitching path that provides a route from the following vehicle to the lead vehicle, controlling the following vehicle to travel the hitching path, aligning the following vehicle with the lead vehicle, and controlling the following vehicle to perform the hitchless towing by following the lead vehicle without a physical connection.