Uber Wants 24,000 Driverless Volvos

Uber is planning to buy up to 24,000 self-driving cars from Volvo, the company has announced, moving from its current model of ride-sharing using freelance drivers to owning a fleet of autonomous cars.

Following the three-year self-driving partnership with Volvo, the non-binding framework could give Uber a boost in its ambitions to perfect self-driving systems to replace human drivers, following setbacks and lawsuits over trade secrets and talent.

Volvo said recently it would provide Uber with up to 24,000 of its flagship XC90 SUVs, which retail from around £50,000, equipped with autonomous technology as part of a non-exclusive deal from 2019 to 2021. The Geely-owned car company will provide the vehicles, while Uber will provide the yet-to-be-built self-driving system, which is currently under development by Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group.

The announcement follows the news that Alphabet’s Waymo will launch the world’s first autonomous car service in the next few months in Arizona, where it is legal to operate self-driving cars without humans behind the wheel, unlike the majority of the rest of the US and the world, which requires the safety net of a human driver.

Autonomous vehicles are seen as the logical next step for ride-hailing firms including Uber, which said it perceived the technology as an existential threat. Equally, automakers, ride-hailing firms and tech startups have been forging loose alliances in an effort to advance self-driving technology and claim a piece of what is expected to be a multi-billion-pound business.
Should Uber buy all 24,000 cars, it would be Volvo’s largest order by far and the biggest sale in the autonomous vehicle industry to date, giving Uber, losing more than $600m a quarter, its first commercial fleet of cars. The cars would, in theory, be available to order through the Uber app and pick up passengers without a driver.

Jeff Miller, Uber’s head of automotive alliances, said: “Our goal was from day one to make investments into a vehicle that could be manufactured at scale.

“It only becomes a commercial business when you can remove that vehicle operator from the equation.”
Uber has been testing prototype Volvo cars for more than a year in Arizona and Pittsburgh, with safety drivers in the front seat to intervene if the self-driving system fails. 

Driving statistics released by analyst firm Edison Investment Research in April showed that Uber’s self-driving technology was 5,000 times worse than Waymo’s, ranking it the worst of six major self-driving car companies testing vehicles. 

Edison’s data showed that Uber’s self-driving cars forced a human to take over once every mile driven, while Waymo’s technology only once every 5,128 miles driven, with more than half a million miles driven in the last 12 months.

No financial details were disclosed for the purchase, but Miller said that a small number of the XC90s would be bought using equity, with more acquired using debt financing.

The deal builds on a $300m Volvo-Uber alliance announced last year, which is focused on collaborating on the design and financing of cars with self-driving systems and will require different steering and braking features and sensors. 
Uber’s North American-only rival Lyft struck a research partnership with Alphabet Inc’s unit Waymo this year and secured deals with Ford and startups Nutonomy and Drive.ai to incorporate self-driving cars into its fleet.

Volvo’s agreement with Uber and Ford’s with Lyft show the pressure on automakers to avoid becoming obsolete in a world of increased automation, and on ride-hailing companies to start automating to cut driver costs and turn profits.

Guardian:

You Might Also Read:

Management Coverup At Uber After 57m Customers Hacked:

Twelve Things To Know About Self Driving Cars:

Google Lawsuit Could Be Fatal For Uber:
 

 

« Is Your Data Being Sold On The Dark Web?
Saudi Arabia Under Attack »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Practice Labs

Practice Labs

Practice Labs is an IT competency hub, where live-lab environments give access to real equipment for hands-on practice of essential cybersecurity skills.

MIRACL

MIRACL

MIRACL provides the world’s only single step Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) which can replace passwords on 100% of mobiles, desktops or even Smart TVs.

The PC Support Group

The PC Support Group

A partnership with The PC Support Group delivers improved productivity, reduced costs and protects your business through exceptional IT, telecoms and cybersecurity services.

ZenGRC

ZenGRC

ZenGRC - the first, easy-to-use, enterprise-grade information security solution for compliance and risk management - offers businesses efficient control tracking, testing, and enforcement.

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: What Is A Next-Generation Firewall (and why does it matter)?

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR: What Is A Next-Generation Firewall (and why does it matter)?

Watch this webinar to hear security experts from Amazon Web Services (AWS) and SANS break down the myths and realities of what an NGFW is, how to use one, and what it can do for your security posture.

AppRiver

AppRiver

AppRiver is a global provider of cloud-based email and web security solutions that protect businesses worldwide from today's ever-changing online threats.

Security Network Munich

Security Network Munich

Security Network Munich brings together leading players in the field of information and cyber security through joint research and innovation projects.

AllClear ID

AllClear ID

AllClear ID provides products and services that help protect people and their personal information from threats related to identity theft.

Cydome

Cydome

Cydome offers full-spectrum cybersecurity solutions tailored for the maritime industry.

Salt Communications

Salt Communications

Salt communications is a global leader in secure communications. Our bespoke platform is the secure communications solution that uniquely gives complete control to our customers.

Cycura

Cycura

Cycura provide advanced, customized, and confidential cyber security services, cyber investigation services, and digital forensic services to governments, companies, and organizations.

MedCrypt

MedCrypt

MedCrypt are a team of medical device experts focused on bringing modern cybersecurity features to the next generation of healthcare technology.

Cloud Managed Networks

Cloud Managed Networks

Cloud Managed Networks provides enterprise grade IT network solutions for cloud-based and on premise network security, Wi-Fi, data switching, collaboration, device management and more.

Improsec

Improsec

Improsec is a fully independent Cyber Security advisory company - we provide knowledge, experience and both strategic and deep technical expertise to our clients.

Abacode

Abacode

Abacode is a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP). We help businesses consolidate all of their Regulatory Compliance & Cybersecurity needs, under one roof.

Prompt

Prompt

Prompt supports the creation of partnerships and the setting up of industrial-institutional applied R&D projects for all ICT sectors.

Phy-Cy.X Security Group

Phy-Cy.X Security Group

Phy-Cy.X specialize in the “Physics” of Information Security through both physical and cyber domains. We are not an IT company, we ARE an Information Security company.

Midwest Cyber Security Alliance (MCSA)

Midwest Cyber Security Alliance (MCSA)

Midwest Cyber Security Alliance is a nonprofit, nonpartisan collaboration of individuals, businesses, government entities, and professionals advocating for more effective cyber security solutions.

Pacific Global Security Group

Pacific Global Security Group

Pacific Global Security Group offers an intelligence-driven focus on all aspects of cybersecurity for IT/ICS/OT.

Heartland Business Systems (HBS)

Heartland Business Systems (HBS)

Heartland Business Systems serves commercial, public sector and small to medium business with results-driven and dedicated information technology services.

Tidelift

Tidelift

Tidelift provides the tools, data, and strategies that help organizations assess risk and improve the health, security, and resilience of the open source used in their applications.