Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE: ALV and SSE: ALIVsdb), the worldwide leader in automotive safety systems, today announced it has joined the Drive Me project. The project is a unique large-scale autonomous driving project joining industry, government and academia towards securing future mobility solutions. As part of the project, 100 self-driving cars will be released on public roads in Gothenburg, Sweden under everyday driving conditions.
Autoliv is joining the current partners, Volvo Car Group, the Swedish Transport Administration, the Swedish Transport Agency, Lindholmen Science Park, the City of Gothenburg and Chalmers University in this sector steering collaboration, which is endorsed by the Swedish Government.
The project aims to position Sweden and the involved actors as leaders in the development of future mobility. Autoliv sees the Drive Me project as a collective effort to create broad partnerships with major impact on systemic, technical and organizational solutions for traffic with autonomous driving. Autoliv intends, within the framework of the Drive Me project, to contribute with both knowledge as well as top tier research efforts.
”The Drive Me project is a great chance for us to join forces with key stakeholders in Sweden to strengthen our work within autonomous driving. The automotive fleet of tomorrow will be characterized by integrated active and passive safety systems which have to operate with complete safety and in harmony. This is the key knowledge with which Autoliv will contribute within this essential project”, says Autoliv Chairman, President & CEO Jan Carlson.
“While the development within autonomous driving is moving rapidly in some ways, this Swedish initiative is exceptional also in a global societal perspective. In order for autonomous driving to become part of our lives, everything from brake pads to traffic lights have to harmonize intelligently and safely. This is how we will save more lives, secure a sustainable transportation development and underpin a more effective and innovative infrastructure. And just as important as the technological developments is the fact that now companies, academia and authorities cooperate to create hands-on solutions for the needs of tomorrow”, adds Mr. Carlson.
Autoliv is currently also engaged in vehicle and traffic safety center SAFER, test facility AstaZero, SIA Automated Transport and Research Investment, Wallenberg Autonomous Systems Program WASP, as well as other research projects with several universities, among them Drive Me partner Chalmers University.
About Drive Me:
Drive Me is a unique large-scale autonomous driving pilot project in which 100 self-driving Volvo cars will be put to use on public roads under everyday driving conditions. The cars will be driven autonomously on approximately 50 kilometers of selected roads in and around Gothenburg, Sweden – roads which will be typical commuter arteries including motorway conditions and frequent queues.
The project was initiated in 2013. The first test vehicles have been on the road in Gothenburg since 2014 – and Volvo Cars has recently taken a major leap forward by presenting a complete system solution for self-driving cars. The public pilot is scheduled to start in 2017.
