Volvo’s new autonomous car trial to begin next year in the UK

Published Date: 28th Apr 2016

Everybody knows the safety heritage Volvo has built up over the years, having invented the now standard three point seat belt back in 1959.

The now Chinese owned and Swedish ran car maker is making a bigger step in safety with the “nobody will be killed or seriously injured in Volvo by 2020” company goal.

So when?, where? and who will take part?

The Drive me London programme will begin in Spring 2017 with plans to expand to other parts of the country next year with up to 100 self-driving XC90 Volvos.

Unlike Google, and their self driving program, tested by professional drivers and Google employees. The new scheme by the Swedish company will use everyday commuters and drivers of the general public to take part. They hope that using the data from more natural routes and journeys will aid the development process with the autonomous cars.

The president and chief executive of Volvo Cars, Håkan Samuelsson said: “Autonomous driving represents a leap forward in car safety.

"The sooner AD cars are on the roads, the sooner lives will start being saved."                                           

Volvo and Håkan Samuelsson are to announce full details of the plans at seminar in London, on the 3rd of May. The event is sponsored by Volvo and Thatcham and titled A future with Autonomous Driving Cars - Implications for the Insurance Industry.

Independent research has shown that self driving cars have the ability to reduce the amount of car accidents by up to 30%. Also 90 per cent of all accidents are down to driver distraction or error, this would be greatly reduced with these new self driving cars.

This new test for London will be nothing new for Volvo as they have already been running supervised smaller tests around Gothenburg where the company Headquarters are located.