Volvo wants to offer autonomous driving as a subscription

Ride Pilot goes a step further than Volvo’s current semi-autonomous ‘Pilot Assist’. According to the Swedes, Ride Pilot makes it possible to actually do other things while driving, such as reading the newspaper or working. In addition, Volvo indicates that the brand takes responsibility for driving when Ride Pilot is engaged. This is an important step in the liability issue surrounding autonomous driving. Now the driver is always responsible in the event of an accident, even if the car is driving itself.

Volvo will supply Ride Pilot on the successor to the XC90. It was already known that the new SUV will get Lidar technology on board. The system was developed in collaboration with the American company Luminar and consists of five radars, eight cameras and sixteen ultrasonic sensors. As a customer, you do not have to pay extra for the technology, because everything is standard on the new XC90. Volvo ensures that the system is continuously improved with over-the-air updates. The fact that Lidar technology is standard on the car does not mean that you can immediately put your feet up on the highway. You need to take out a subscription for Ride Pilot. Volvo does not yet state the exact price.

First in California

Before Ride Pilot becomes available worldwide, Volvo will introduce the system in the US state of California. The Swedes do this because the regulations already allow it there. However, Volvo does note that Ride Pilot currently still needs to be approved. So it seems that buyers of the XC90 successor in California will not immediately be able to drive fully autonomously, although the technology is already in the car. Volvo does not say when that approval has been received and the system can actually be rolled out. After California, Ride Pilot is also planned to be launched in the rest of the world.