Daimler and automotive supplier Robert Bosch have reportedly tied up to begin testing self-driving robo-taxis in the next few months.
According to a recent report by Reuters, Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler and Bosch have partnered to develop self-driving cars to develop robo-taxis in a bid to keep up with a growing number of rivals trying to do the same.
“There will be test vehicles on the streets in the coming months,” Bosch Chief Executive Volkmar Denner told German publication Automobilwoche, without being more specific.
The pact between Daimler and Bosch, according to the report, forms a counterweight to new auto industry players like ride-hailing firms Uber and Didi, which are also working on self-driving cars.
“Apart from highly autonomous level 3 vehicles we will also bring fully autonomous vehicles – level 4/5 – to the streets in the foreseeable future,” Wilko Stark, vice president Daimler and Mercedes-Benz Cars strategy, told Automobilwoche.
A level 3 car still needs a steering wheel and a driver who can take over if the car encounters a problem, while level 4 promises driverless features in dedicated lanes. Full autonomy – known as an “eyes off, brains off” or “level 5” system – does away with even the need for a steering wheel.
Technology companies and carmakers are striving to adjust to a shifting landscape in the auto industry as consumers increasingly turn to smart technology for purchasing and renting vehicles. Moreover, carmakers such as Daimler face fierce competition as tech companies such as Alphabet and Apple get into the automobile business. Traditional competitors such as BMW have also recently announced plans to sell self-driving cars in 2021.
Stark promises that the company aims to deliver a unique offering to the market “The big difference to other competitors is that we are conceptualising our vehicle as a robo-taxi right from the beginning and not as a technology-kit mounted on a serial vehicle. We will not have a makeshift solution,” Stark added.
