Volvo is currently asking families in Gothenburg, Sweden to help with the development of its Drive Me self-driving automobile programme but the Swedish manufacturer has delayed the full roll-out of level 4 autonomous test automobiles until 2021.
Early announcements from Volvo stated that it would have 100 fully autonomous automobiles being trailed on public roads before being made available to customers around 2021, but now it has changed its stance. The firm says that it has drafted in Gothenburg-based families to help provide feedback on self-driving technology that is still at the ‘level 2’ phase, little more advanced than systems that are already on sale in Volvo production automobiles and those of other brands. With level 2 autonomous cars, the driver is still expected to pay attention to the road and be able to take over control with little or no notice.
Advertisement – article continues below
• Driverless cars: everything you need to know
Currently, two families are living with Volvo XC90 SUVs in the Swedish city as part of the Drive Me trial. These XC90’s are currently fitted with the second stage in Volvo’s autonomous tech which features and array of cameras and sensors to monitor automobiles and obstacles around the SUV and keep occupants safe.
4
About our adsClose this ad
Volvo will gradually add further autonomous tech that will let the automobile take more control from the driver as the trial period progresses. By 2021, up to 100 families will be part of the Drive Me programme and Volvo hopes that by then, the self-driving tech will be up to the conventional needed for a global release.