French Manufacturer Bringing Its Autonomous Shuttles To North America

A French manufacturer of all-electric shuttles is planning to open its first North American production facility in Michigan.

Shuttle-maker Navya has 45 of its autonomous Arma shuttles operating around the world and was founded in 2014. To help bring the Arma to life, the manufacturer partnered with the University of Michigan’s Mobility Transformation Center in October 2015 and selected a production facility just south in Saline, Michigan.

In a statement, Navya chief executive Christophe Sapet said “We at NAVYA could not be more pleased to call Saline, Michigan, home to our first assembly plant in North America.

“As the greater Ann Arbor area continues to establish itself as a hub for autonomous vehicle development, we feel it’s the perfect location for us. Strong government and community support for mobility initiatives combined with an excellent talent pool provide the ideal environment for our expansion in North America,” Sapet said.

The Navya Arma can transport up to 15 people and uses a wrath of sensors to drive autonomously without the assistance of a human driver.

The company intends on building 25 units in North America before the end of the year.