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Autonomous Driving

Stellantis has introduced STLA AutoDrive, an advanced autonomous driving system that enables hands-free, eyes-off driving at speeds up to 60km/h. Designed to ease navigation in dense urban traffic, the SAE Level 3 technology allows drivers to engage in activities such as watching movies, reading, or checking emails while the system takes control.

The technology is engineered to manage routine driving tasks seamlessly, including maintaining safe distances, adjusting speed, steering, and braking based on real-time traffic conditions. According to Ned Curic, Stellantis Chief Engineering and Technology Officer, the system is designed with the primary goal of helping drivers make more efficient use of their time.

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Toyota has announced a partnership with Nvidia to integrate the Nvidia Drive AGX Orin platform and DriveOS operating system into its next generation of vehicles, signalling a significant leap in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). This collaboration builds on Toyota’s long-standing relationship with Nvidia, which began in 2019 with the adoption of Nvidia’s technology for cloud computing and autonomous vehicle development.

Nvidia’s Vice President of Automotive, Ali Kani, praised Toyota’s role in the company’s “cloud-to-car” strategy, which seamlessly combines cloud-based technologies with on-vehicle systems to enable safer, smarter mobility. Nvidia also collaborates with a roster of leading automakers, including Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, BYD, Lucid, Rivian, Nio, and Xiaomi, to advance driver assistance and autonomous driving technologies.

TÜV-Certified Autonomous Driving Platform

Nvidia’s Drive AGX Hyperion, a comprehensive autonomous driving platform, has recently passed stringent safety audits by TÜV SÜD (a global company that provides testing, inspection, certification, and training services) and TÜV Rheinland. This platform combines the Drive AGX system-on-chip (SoC), DriveOS, and a suite of sensors and active safety features to deliver reliable and scalable autonomous driving solutions.

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Mercedes-Benz has achieved a significant milestone in autonomous driving with the latest update to its Drive Pilot system, now certified by Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority. This upgrade positions Drive Pilot as the fastest conditionally automated driving system (SAE Level 3) available in standard production vehicles. The feature is set to hit the market in early 2025, offered on the S-Class and EQS luxury saloons at a starting price of €5,950 (around RM27,620).

Existing vehicles equipped with Drive Pilot can receive the software update for free, either over-the-air or at authorized service centres, with no need for hardware modifications.

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China’s capital, Beijing, has passed new regulations to bolster autonomous driving technology, positioning the city as a leader in intelligent transportation. The regulations, set to take effect on April 1, 2025, aim to facilitate the adoption of driverless public buses, taxis, and private autonomous vehicles.

According to the Beijing Daily, autonomous vehicles that successfully pass road testing and safety evaluations will be eligible for road trials. The move reflects Beijing’s broader ambition to integrate autonomous technology into urban transit systems, including private cars, urban buses, trams, and taxis. To support this, the city plans to accelerate the construction of intelligent road infrastructure tailored to autonomous vehicles.

Expanding Autonomous Vehicle Trials Across China

Beijing’s announcement comes amid a nationwide push to promote self-driving technology. Wuhan, another major Chinese city, recently approved its own regulations to support the development of intelligent connected vehicles. Across China, at least 19 cities are actively conducting trials for robotaxis and robobuses, signalling rapid progress in this sector.

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Sony Group and Honda Motor are collaborating to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into the development of autonomous driving features for their joint electric vehicle (EV) venture, Honda Mobility. Their luxury EV brand, Afeela, will debut in Japan and the U.S. by 2026, featuring AI-driven autonomous capabilities.

The AI in these vehicles will continuously improve self-driving functionality through software updates, potentially once or twice a year. The initial AI systems are expected to support Level 3 autonomy, allowing for autonomous driving on highways and under specific conditions. This level of autonomy means the car can handle driving tasks while still requiring human intervention in certain scenarios.

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Suzuki Motor Corporation is collaborating with Nagoya-based startup Tier IV to develop autonomous driving technology specifically for minicars, aiming to address the unique transportation needs of Japan’s less-populated regions. This initiative is a strategic move to meet the increasing demand for compact, self-driving vehicles capable of navigating narrow and often challenging rural roads.

Investment and Partnership

Suzuki has made a strategic investment in Tier IV, contributing to a substantial 8 billion yen capital increase. This partnership will see Tier IV develop a prototype of an autonomous minicar using existing Suzuki models. The goal is to integrate this technology into Suzuki’s next-generation vehicles, leveraging Tier IV’s expertise in autonomous systems.

Historical Collaboration

The two companies have an established relationship, having jointly tested a Suzuki car equipped with Tier IV’s autonomous driving system in 2022. This successful collaboration set the stage for deeper integration of Tier IV’s technology into Suzuki’s vehicle lineup.

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In a significant move for the future of autonomous driving, China has granted nine companies the green light to begin testing Level 3 autonomous driving systems on public roads. This approval comes approximately eight months after the Chinese government issued guidelines for the nationwide initiative and started accepting applications from firms interested in testing their self-driving technologies.

The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has confirmed that Nio, BYD, Changan Auto, GAC, SAIC, BAIC BluePark, China FAW Group, SAIC Hongyan, and Yutong Bus have received approval to test their autonomous vehicles on restricted roads. These tests will allow drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel, marking a significant step towards the deployment of Level 3 semi-autonomous vehicles in China.

While Level 3 autonomous vehicles are not yet commercially available in China, these tests are expected to pave the way for the introduction of such systems for individual buyers and fleet operators. Currently, at least 10 car manufacturers in China, including Huawei and Xpeng, sell vehicles equipped with Level 2 systems.

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The adoption of autonomous driving technology has indeed sparked both excitement and caution in various regions around the world. While companies like Tesla and Waymo have made significant strides in bringing self-driving capabilities to the market, concerns about safety, regulation, and legal liability persist.

British Columbia’s decision to implement a ban on autonomous driving technology beyond Level 2 autonomy reflects a cautious approach to the deployment of these advanced systems. By restricting the use of higher-level autonomous driving features, the government aims to prioritise safety and ensure that drivers remain actively engaged in the driving process.

The categorisation of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system as Level 2 autonomy means that it falls within the permitted range of autonomous capabilities in British Columbia. However, the introduction of more advanced autonomous features by Tesla or other manufacturers could potentially conflict with the province’s regulations and face legal repercussions.

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Chinese automaker Geely Holding Group announced on Saturday the successful launch of 11 low-earth orbit satellites, marking its second dispatch as part of efforts to bolster navigation capabilities for autonomous vehicles. The satellites were launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province.

Geely plans to expand its satellite network, aiming to have 72 satellites in orbit by 2025 and ultimately establishing a constellation of 240 satellites. This initiative follows the company’s first launch in June 2022.

The primary objective of the satellite network is to provide high-precision positioning support for self-driving cars. Additionally, Geely’s network will offer connectivity services to the consumer electronics sector and serve other commercial functions.

The newly launched satellites are equipped with AI remote sensing capabilities, enabling them to capture clear high-resolution imaging with a resolution ranging from 3.2-16.4 feet, as stated by the company.

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BMW has announced a partnership with Amazon to utilise their cloud computing technology for the development of their semi-autonomous driver assistance system. This advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) will be integrated into BMW’s upcoming Neue Klasse electric cars, set to debut in 2025. This move underscores a broader trend among traditional automakers aiming to enhance their vehicle technology, especially ADAS, to remain competitive with Tesla.

ADAS encompasses software systems designed to assist drivers with tasks like lane changes and parking, and automakers are progressively introducing more such features as they progress toward autonomous driving. Tesla’s ADAS, known as Autopilot, serves as an example of this trend.

The effective functioning of ADAS relies heavily on data processing, given the essential hardware components like cameras and semiconductors. Artificial intelligence plays a pivotal role in these assisted driving systems.

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