Both General Motors and Toyota announced efforts last week to accelerate the development of autonomous vehicles. General Motors announced it is acquiring Cruise Automation to add Cruise’s software talent and rapid development capability to further accelerate GM’s development of autonomous vehicle technology. “Fully autonomous vehicles can bring our customers enormous benefits in terms of greater […]
Consumer Groups Call For Transparency, Public Involvement in Development of Government Self-Driving Car Policies
In the wake of the news that a Google self-driving car crashed into a bus, a coalition of consumer groups called on the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “to commit to maximum transparency and public involvement” as they develop policy and safety standards covering autonomous self-driving vehicles. Google recently […]
AAA Survey Finds Americans Afraid of Self-Driving Vehicles
Three out of four drivers report being afraid of self-driving cars. Despite fear, AAA survey finds demand for semi-autonomous features in new vehicles. Three out of four U.S. drivers report feeling “afraid” to ride in a self-driving car, according to a new survey from AAA. With today’s heightened focus on autonomous vehicles, this fear poses […]
Report: Car Sharing Will Keep Growing, But It Will Not Disrupt the Automotive Industry
Boston Consulting Group projects car sharing will reduce new-vehicle sales by only 1 percent in 2021. Report projects autonomous vehicles will have greater impact on the industry but not until late 2020s. According to a new report from The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) while car sharing is taking hold in large urban areas in both […]
Consortium to Trial Driverless Cars on UK Roads
Sajid Javid MP, Secretary for Business, Innovation and Skills announced that the MOVE_UK project, which is led by Bosch, will receive a £5.5 million ($7.9 million) grant awarded by Innovate UK to support a trail of driverless technology in real world conditions on roads in Greenwich, London. Alongside Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), UK project partners […]
U.S. DOT Proposes Nearly $4 Billion for Automated Vehicles
DOT actions revise existing guidance and clear administrative hurdles for new automotive technology In his last State of the Union address, President Obama signaled his intent to invest in a 21st century transportation system. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx yesterday revealed part of the president’s proposal: a 10-year, nearly $4 billion investment to accelerate the […]
Ford Conducts First Snow Tests of Autonomous Vehicles
Vehicle manufacturer views tests in winter a major step toward fully-autonomous driving. Ford is conducting what it says are the industry’s first autonomous vehicle tests in snow-covered environments – a major step in the company’s plan to bring fully autonomous vehicles to millions of customers worldwide. Ford is conducting what it says are the industry’s […]
Renault-Nissan Will Launch 10 Vehicles with Autonomous Tech in Next Four Years
The Renault-Nissan Alliance announced it will launch more than 10 vehicles with autonomous drive technology in the next four years. The global car group confirmed that it will launch a range of vehicles with autonomous capabilities in the United States, Europe, Japan and China through 2020. The technology will be installed on mainstream, mass-market cars […]
General Motors Invests $500 Million in Lyft
Vehicle manufacturer and ride-hailing service envision on-demand autonomous vehicles. General Motors (NYSE:GM) and Lyft, the ride-hailing service, today announced a long-term strategic alliance to create an integrated network of on-demand autonomous vehicles in the U.S. GM will invest $500 million in Lyft to help the company continue the rapid growth of its successful ridesharing service. […]
California Issues Draft Regulations for Autonomous Vehicles
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has released draft autonomous vehicle deployment regulations for public comment. The proposed regulations would initially exclude driverless vehicles. “The primary focus of the deployment regulations is the safety of autonomous vehicles and the safety of the public who will share the road with these vehicles,” said DMV Director […]