The electric successor to the Volvo XC90 will be able to drive highly automated. However, only under certain local and financial conditions.
Volvo starts with highly automated driving in series. Initially, however, only in California, where the assistance system called “Drive Pilot” should be available for users of the brand's upcoming electric flagship in the course of the year. Other markets are to follow.
Action must be taken in an emergency
Technology enables driving on Autonomy level 3. This means that people can keep their hands off the steering wheel on suitable motorway sections and completely avert their eyes from the traffic. In the event of an emergency, however, he must remain ready to intervene at all times. The functionality is also limited to a certain speed range, which Volvo has not yet specified.
The target group includes business people who want to get work done on their morning drive through the stop-and-go traffic. In the future, these could activate the Drive Pilot temporarily or permanently for a fee as part of a kind of subscription model. The manufacturer has not yet provided any information on the costs. In addition to radar and camera, Volvo also uses a laser scanner as sensors, a technology that is currently still considered relatively expensive. The hardware is on board as standard in every vehicle built, but is not active.
In Europe, highly automated driving is still uncertain
So far, however, the approval of the California road traffic authority DMV is still pending, as Martin Kristensson admits, who heads the development of autonomous driving at Volvo. The car manufacturer is in close contact, however, so that the technology can be activated in a timely manner. At the time of launch in Europe, he does not provide any information. But first of all, the premiere of the XC90 successor, which will be the first model of the brand to be equipped with the Drive Pilot. Retrofitting other Volvo cars is not possible.
With the introduction of highly automated driving, Volvo is one of the pioneers in technology. In Germany, Mercedes intends to offer level 3 autonomy shortly, Audi has had the necessary technology on board for the A8 since 2017 and has not been allowed to activate it for legal reasons, among other things. Other premium manufacturers are also likely to announce advances in level 3 technology in the coming months. At the same time, the industry is working on fully automated driving at autonomy level 4; However, the technology is less intended for the private customer market than for use in robotic taxis by mobility service providers. Volvo is also developing this technology, among other things as part of a cooperation with Google's sister company Waymo.