The Volvo XC90 will be the first cars to mount the new hardware platform for autonomous driving of DiDi Autonomous Driving, the technological arm dedicated to autonomous driving of Didi Chuxing, a Chinese group active in new forms of mobility. It is one of the results of the partnership signed by Volvo Cars and DiDi Autonomous Driving, a strategic collaboration agreement that will lead to the development of self-driving vehicles for use in DiDi’s test fleet. The Swedish company will supply the Chinese with a series of XC90s equipped with the necessary backup systems for functions such as steering and braking and will collaborate with DiDi Autonomous Driving to integrate the additional software and hardware necessary to make them fully suitable for autonomous driving.
The agreement – it is noted in a note – “strengthens Volvo Cars’ position as a supplier of cars and as a preferred partner for self-driving fleets, leveraging its reputation as a world leader in automotive safety”. The development of this partnership also includes the creation of models able to circulate without support drivers in the field of robotaxi services.
Thanks to its shared mobility technology platform, DiDi draws on extensive experience in the operation of the network and its global real-world driving database to develop commercial autonomous transport services in collaboration with the world’s leading car manufacturers.
Last year, Volvo Cars supplied DiDi with Volvo XC60s for use in the first robotaxi pilot program in Shanghai. Residents of certain areas of Shanghai could book robotaxi rides through the DiDi app and be transported in self-driving cars, which were monitored by a support driver and an engineer.
“This strategic partnership with DiDi Autonomous Driving is further confirmation of our ambition to become the go-to partner for the world’s leading ride-hailing companies,” said Håkan Samuelsson, CEO of Volvo Cars. “By combining DiDi’s ever-expanding robotaxi program with our safe cars, we are creating the conditions for building consumer confidence in ride-hailing with self-driving cars.”