Autonomous driving

Self-driving cars struggle with reliability and public trust

Reports indicate that self-driving cars remain far from flawless, with persistent technical and social obstacles keeping human drivers in the frame for now.

EU Law Change Opens Door for Autonomous Cars on European Roads

A new amendment to the Vienna Convention clears legal barriers for self-driving vehicles, allowing European countries to permit autonomous driving technology from May 2014.

Autonomous Cars Could Abandon Steering Wheels and Pedals

Fully self-driving vehicles may soon make traditional controls and safety features redundant, raising questions for manufacturers and regulators.

Continental Hires Google Robotics Executive to Lead Autonomous Car Push

Continental has recruited a senior Google robotics executive to accelerate its autonomous vehicle programme, signalling intensified competition for talent in the self-driving technology sector.

Rimac C_Two stuns Geneva with 1,914hp electric hypercar

Croatia’s Rimac Automobili unveils the C_Two at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, promising 1,914hp, 412km/h top speed and advanced autonomous features.

Nissan IMx Kuro concept brings all-electric crossover vision to Geneva

Nissan revealed the IMx Kuro concept at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, updating its electric crossover vision with new technology and a darker design theme.

Mercedes and Siroop Launch Urban Drone Delivery Trial in Zurich

Mercedes-Benz and Swiss retailer Siroop are testing drone-assisted parcel deliveries in Zurich, using Vito vans as mobile drone landing platforms for city-wide e-commerce orders.

Audi Aicon Concept Reveals Level 5 Autonomous Vision at 2017 Frankfurt Show

Audi’s Aicon concept, unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, previews a fully autonomous luxury saloon with no steering wheel, four electric motors and a claimed 500-mile range.

Lyft partners with nuTonomy to advance autonomous ride-hailing

Lyft has formed a technology partnership with nuTonomy, the Boston-based startup known for launching public autonomous taxi trials in Singapore, to integrate their systems for future ride-hailing services.

Dubai Approves Autonomous Passenger Drones for City Transport

Dubai’s transport authority will introduce the EHang 184 autonomous drone for passenger services, offering single-occupant flights across the city from summer 2017.

Elaine Chao Confirmed as US Secretary of Transportation

Elaine Chao takes charge of the US Department of Transportation after a decisive Senate vote, positioning her to oversee infrastructure, safety and autonomous vehicle policy.

NHTSA clears Tesla Autopilot, cites 40% drop in crash rates

US safety regulators have closed their investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot, finding no defects and reporting a substantial reduction in crash rates after Autosteer was introduced.

BMW to Deploy 40 Autonomous 7 Series Test Cars in Europe and US

BMW will launch a fleet of around 40 self-driving 7 Series prototypes on public roads across Europe and the US before mid-2017, advancing its collaboration with Intel and Mobileye.

Toyota Concept-i debuts AI-driven interface at CES

Toyota unveiled the Concept-i at CES 2017, featuring an artificial intelligence system called Yui that learns from its driver and prioritises safety and minimalism.

BMW and Mercedes-Benz Begin Public Autonomous Vehicle Trials in Germany

BMW and Mercedes-Benz have both secured approval to run autonomous vehicle tests on German public roads, escalating competition between the two in self-driving technology.

Brigade Concept Imagines Autonomous Police Motorcycle Patrols

Canadian designer Eduardo Arndt’s Brigade concept proposes a riderless, electric police motorcycle equipped with sensors and cameras to automate routine patrol and enforcement tasks.

Ford previews next-gen driver assist tech and self-loading wheelchair

Ford has revealed a set of advanced driver assistance features and mobility innovations, including a self-loading electric wheelchair, at its European Research and Innovation Center in Aachen.

Cifu concept imagines autonomous delivery as a rolling package

Italian designer Matteo Gentile’s Cifu concept proposes a compact, self-driving delivery robot styled like a package on wheels and inspired by on-road delivery drones.

Survey finds Mercedes and Infiniti buyers most open to autonomous tech

A MaritzCX survey suggests Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti owners show the strongest interest in self-driving features, while Porsche, BMW, Jeep and Ram buyers remain sceptical.

Singapore launches first public trial of autonomous taxis

nuTonomy begins offering free rides in driverless electric taxis to invited users in Singapore’s business district, aiming for a full-scale service by 2018.

Faraday Future Hires Key Talent from Apple’s Secretive Car Project

Bart Nabbe, a senior figure linked to Apple’s unconfirmed car initiative, has joined electric vehicle start-up Faraday Future as Director of Strategic Partnerships.

Tesla Autopilot Crash: Authorities Say Vehicle Was Speeding

Investigators confirmed the Tesla Model S involved in the fatal Florida crash was travelling 9 mph over the speed limit with Autopilot engaged.

Warwick University develops £2.1m simulator to combat car hacking

A £2.1 million simulator at the University of Warwick will let researchers test how hackers could attack autonomous and connected vehicles, and how to stop them.

German Transport Authority Reviews Tesla Autopilot Update

The Federal Motor Transport Authority is examining Tesla’s latest Autopilot software update after concerns were raised about its approval process in Germany.