US auto giant General Motors and ride-sharing company Lyft to test self-driving Chevrolet Bolt taxis
United States: Cruise Automation Inc., a self-driving technology start-up, which GM
plans to buy for USD1 billion has developed the technology for the
autonomous-testing program. GM announced its self-driving testing program after
it invested USD500 million in ride-sharing company, Lyft. Companies such as
Google and Uber have already invested heavily in self-driving technology.
Hence, GM makes this move in order to sustain the drastic changes in
transportation technology.
GM officials
said, “We have said the Chevrolet Bolt EV as the ideal platform for ride
sharing solutions. We believe electrification blends perfectly with autonomy
when it comes to technology integration.” GM currently lends its Chevrolet
Equinox compact crossover to Lyft drivers in Chicago.
Lyft Product
Director Taggart Matthiesen said, “We will want to vet the autonomous tech
between Cruise, GM and ourselves and slowly introduce this to markets.” Lyft,
further plans to phase out drivers, however, it would keep them in the
autonomous vehicles to address the regulatory concerns.
The details
of the testing program are still being worked out and the trials are going on
in an anonymous city. However, interested customers can opt into this program
and can avail the opportunity to hail a self-driving Bolt.
According to
a recent report published by TechSci
Research, “Global Autonomous Car Technology Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2035” anticipated
increase in regulations mandating integration of autonomous technology in new
vehicles, decline in prices of autonomous technology and the rising focus on
safety on roads is expected to drive growth in the global autonomous car
technology market over the next twenty years.
As per
TechSci Research, global autonomous car technology market is primarily divided
into three segments - Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) car
technologies, semi-autonomous car technology and fully-autonomous car
technology. ADAS technology us currently moving at a fast pace on account of
its enhanced safety features. The semi-autonomous car technology is expected to
be seen on roads over the next ten years, while, fully-autonomous cars are
expected to be commercially available by 2025.