Uber Self-drive

Uber to deploy self-driving cars in Pittsburgh.

18:03 22 August 2016

Teaming up with Volvo, Uber will, for the first time, allow users to hail self-driving cars in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The vehicles will still be supervised by a driver, who can take control if necessary.

 

A spokeswoman for the firm told the BBC: "Starting later this month, Uber will allow customers in downtown Pittsburgh to summon self-driving cars from their phones, crossing an important milestone that no automotive or technology company has yet achieved.

"In Pittsburgh, customers will request cars the normal way, via Uber's app, and will be paired with a driverless car at random. Trips will be free for the time being, rather than the standard local rate of $1.30 [£0.98] per mile."

 

Meanwhile, Volvo said: "Both Uber and Volvo will use the same base vehicle for the next stage of their own autonomous car strategies,"

 

"This will involve Uber adding its own self-developed autonomous driving systems to the Volvo base vehicle."