Volvo XC90 To Be Used By Didi’s Autonomous Vehicle Test Fleet

Volvo will provide Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing with XC90 SUVs for the company’s autonomous driving test fleet.

The Swedish car manufacturer has confirmed it will supply DiDi Autonomous Driving with XC90s complete with all necessary backup systems for functions including steering and and braking will work with DiDi to integrate the software and hardware needed to give the vehicles full autonomy.

These test prototypes will integrate Didi’s new self-driving hardware platform dubbed DiDi Gemini and eventually allow the vehicles to operate without safety drivers in robotaxi services.

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“This strategic collaboration with DiDi Autonomous Driving is further validation of our ambition to be the partner of choice to the world’s leading ride-hailing companies,” Volvo Cars chief executive Håkan Samuelsson said in a statement. “Combining DiDi’s expanding robotaxi programme with our safe cars creates a great match to build trust among consumers for autonomous ride-hailing.”

Volvo was once supplying XC90s to Uber for its autonomous vehicle endeavors. However, after one of Uber’s prototypes struck and killed a pedestrian in 2018, the project was scrapped.

“In expanding partnerships with global automotive industry leaders, we believe shared, electric and autonomous vehicle networks will be crucial for future urban transport systems to achieve the highest safety and sustainability standards,” DiDi Autonomous Driving chief executive and Didi Chuxing chief technology officer Bob Zhang added. “DiDi Gemini, our new self-driving hardware platform incorporates critical hardware improvements from our test passenger service operations in Shanghai. With Volvo Cars’ leadership in safety, we look forward to achieving new milestones towards future autonomous transport services.”