Ride-sharing firm Uber is set to launch a self-driving vehicle service in the next few weeks.
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Volvo’s driverless auto plans include testing them on London’s roads next year, while Uber is already trialling the technology on the roads of Pittsburgh in the United States using Ford Fusion cars.
Customers in the city’s downtown will be randomly matched with one of the company’s self-driving cars, a modified Volvo sport utility vehicle when they hail a ride through Uber’s mobile application.
A partnership with Volvo was also announced today, which will see the two companies work together to develop new autonomous vehicles.
The newest Uber driver in Pittsburgh isn’t a person – but a Volvo XC90. Volvo will manufacture the base for each of those cars, and Uber will then buy each vehicle made.
Volvo’s vision for the auto still plans to have a driver behind the wheel, but also includes fully autonomous capabilities.
Levandowski will now take over Uber’s entire self-driving-car operations and Uber plans to open two more R&D offices: one in Palo Alto and another in Otto’s offices in San Francisco. Better still, customers can ride in the cars completely free of charge, as a thanks for testing out the future of road transport.
Ford announced plans this week for a major push to make autonomous cars.
Right now, however, self-driving cars are still under intense scrutiny.
Look ma, no hands: Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti in a self-driving Volvo at the Connected Car Expo, Nov. 17, 2015. Oh, and to make it all happen, Uber is putting two other dudes in the auto with you.
Customers in Pittsburgh will be able to request a ride in a self-driving auto via Uber’s app, according to Bloomberg.
Uber will be working with other automakers, as the Volvo deal is not exclusive.
Uber’s rushing headlong into self-driving cars in the hopes of beating back Google and others who are moving more cautiously.
So far Otto has tested self-driving trucks for highway use only.
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On top of all this, it is also worth mentioning that Otto’s co-founder, Anthony Levandoski, will take charge of Uber’s driverless vehicle operation the moment Uber-Otto deal closes.
