Remember the self-driving cars from the science-fiction classic, ‘I, Robot’? The future depicted in that movie is inching closer to reality with every passing year. The latest move toward that vision comes from German automaker Volkswagen, who announced plans to launch self-driving vehicles for ride-hailing and goods delivery services in Austin, Texas by 2026.
Having learnt from its costly gamble on Ford’s now defunct self-driving unit, Argo, Volkswagen is treading more strategically. The company has now formed a new alliance with Mobileye, a well-regarded supplier in the autonomous driving technology space. This partnership is set to be tested later this year with ten Volkswagen ID Buzz electric vehicles, retrofitted with Mobileye’s autonomous driving platform. These vehicles will be tested in the downtown area of Austin, but will initially be overseen by safety drivers as a precaution.
Volkswagen and the Strategic Shift
In a game of chess with high stakes, Volkswagen managed to secure nearly a hundred staff members from Argo, along with the Austin-based hub where Argo’s autonomous vehicles were previously tested. This is not just a simple team acquisition, but a key part of Volkswagen’s broader plan to leverage Mobileye’s supply base and map data. Through this, the automaker hopes to achieve economies of scale and reduce the costs associated with the development of autonomous vehicles.
“The big aim is that we bring fully autonomous vehicles to the market as a commercial, scalable product,” said Christian Senger, a Volkswagen board member who oversees the development of autonomous driving.
Not Alone in the Lone Star State
Volkswagen is not the lone ranger in this venture. Other industry behemoths, such as GM’s Cruise and Alphabet’s Waymo, are also putting their self-driving cars to the test in Austin, a city renowned for its relaxed regulations on autonomous vehicle testing.
Katrin Lohmann, the president of Volkswagen ADMT, mentioned that the company is “currently actively evaluating different opportunities for different cities.”
The Road to the Future is Not Without Bumps
Despite the excitement and promise, the journey towards a future dominated by self-driving cars has not been all smooth sailing. Tech giants like Tesla, Cruise, and Waymo have all missed their targets for launching autonomous vehicles, primarily due to the challenges these vehicles face in handling rare and unforeseen driving scenarios.
In this light, Volkswagen’s ambitious plan is as much a test of the company’s technological prowess as it is a testament to its commitment to the future of mobility. As the German automaker embarks on this Lone Star journey, the world will be watching closely to see if this bold move nudges us closer to a future where self-driving cars are the norm rather than the exception.
We would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this exciting development. Do you think the future of driving is autonomous? How do you feel about self-driving cars becoming a common sight on our roads? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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