Carmaker Volvo has agreed a deal with Google’s driverless car division Waymo to develop an electric driverless ride-hailing service.
The companies aim to integrate Waymo’s fully self-driving technology – the Waymo Driver – into what they call “an all-new mobility-focused platform”.
Volvo is also including its partners Polestar and Lynk & Co in the project.
“Fully autonomous vehicles have the potential to improve road safety to previously unseen levels and to revolutionise the way people live, work and travel,” said Henrik Green, chief technology officer at Volvo Car Group. “Our global partnership with Waymo opens up new and exciting business opportunities for Volvo Cars, Polestar and Lynk & Co.”
“This key partnership with Volvo Car Group helps pave the path to the deployment of the Waymo Driver abroad in years to come, and represents an important milestone in the highly competitive autonomous vehicle industry,” added Waymo chief automotive officer Adam Frost. “Volvo Car Group shares our vision of creating an autonomous future where roads are safer, and transportation is more accessible and greener.”
