cars news 10: Volvo to Test 100 Autonomous Cars on Public Roads in China

By now, you’ve heard of Volvo’s driverless test mules roaming around the streets of Gothenburg, Sweden. Now, Volvo is planning to send a fleet of autonomous cars to China.

First, Volvo will look around at a number of possible cities to hold the test runs. In the coming months, the automaker will begin negotiating with interested cities and determine if they have necessary regulations and infrastructure in place to support the experiment. Volvo hasn’t given a clear timeline of when the autonomous fleet will arrive in China.

But why China? In a seminar held in Beijing today, Volvo said the nation’s rapid increase in personal transport is creating challenges that can be ameliorated with the help of autonomous cars. Volvo calls China a potential global leader for the development of self-driving cars. China is a huge market for Volvo, and is where its owner Geely is based.

By 2020, Volvo says no one will be seriously injured or killed in one of its new cars, and autonomous driving will help achieve that goal. The all-new Volvo S90 already has a pilot assist function that automatically brakes, steers, and keeps a proper distance from other vehicles on the road. Volvo has already previewed a self-driving interface for future cars.

In 2017, Volvo will bring a full fleet of 100 test cars on select public roads in Gothenburg, Sweden. It’s part of the Drive Me program, allowing families and commuters to experience autonomous driving technologies before they come to market. Volvo is planning this same format for China, giving local drivers the opportunity to test autonomous cars on public roads.

Source: Volvo