Volvo will provide Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing with XC90 SUVs for the company’s autonomous driving test fleet. The Swedish car manufacturer has confirmed it will supply DiDi Autonomous Driving with XC90s complete with all necessary backup systems for functions including steering and and braking will work with DiDi to integrate the software and hardware needed to give the vehicles full autonomy.
These test prototypes will integrate
Didi’s new self-driving hardware platform dubbed DiDi Gemini and eventually
allow the vehicles to operate without safety drivers in robotaxi services.
Volvo was once supplying XC90s to Uber for its autonomous vehicle endeavors.
However, after one of Uber’s prototypes struck and killed a pedestrian in 2018,
the project was scrapped.
“In expanding partnerships with global
automotive industry leaders, we believe shared, electric and autonomous vehicle
networks will be crucial for future urban transport systems to achieve the
highest safety and sustainability standards,” DiDi Autonomous Driving chief
executive and Didi Chuxing chief technology officer Bob Zhang added. “DiDi
Gemini, our new self-driving hardware platform incorporates critical hardware
improvements from our test passenger service operations in Shanghai. With Volvo
Cars’ leadership in safety, we look forward to achieving new milestones towards
future autonomous transport services.”
