Volvo testing autonomous cars on Gothenburg’s public roads

Volvo has announced that from today (12 December) it is developing its autonomous drive cars with help from Swedish families who will test its cars on the public roads of Gothenburg.

According to a statement published on the Volvo website, the first two families, the Hains and the Simonovskis from the Gothenburg area, have now received the Volvo XC90 premium SUVs with which they will support the Drive Me project. Three more families will follow early next year and over the next four years, up to 100 people will be involved in Drive Me.

Volvo Cars said that it plans to “have a fully autonomous car commercially available by 2021” – and the Drive Me tests will play a “crucial role” in the development of these vehicles.

The Hains and the Simonovskis have received Volvo XC90s fitted with Volvo’s latest driver assistance technology as well as “an array of cameras and sensors to monitor their behaviour and provide the car with information on its surroundings”.

During the initial stages of the project, the families will keep their hands on the steering wheel and supervise the driving at all times when using their cars. However, Volvo added that: “Over time, all participants in the Drive Me project will gradually be introduced to more advanced assisted driving cars, after receiving special training.”