New South Wales is one step closer to autonomous mobility with Transport for NSW launching a plan to investigate driverless ride-hail services.
Joost de Kock, Deputy Secretary Customer Strategy and Technology, Transport for NSW said we need to lay the right foundations now so we know what’s needed to launch a robotaxi service in the future.
“We need to start thinking about a number of factors such as locations and infrastructure, passenger demand, connections to public transport, and the benefits to local communities,” Mr de Kock said.
“To help us start that journey, we’re announcing a new partnership with a global leader in driverless technology, Motional.
“The partnership will help us better understand how a driverless ride-hail service could improve the NSW network by providing safer, more accessible, efficient, and affordable mobility options and understanding what needs to be adapted for Australian roads.
“We’re excited to be working with Motional to start laying the foundation for a driverless future in NSW. Today’s studies may very well shape how our communities move around in years to come.”
Motional is at the forefront of driverless technology and has driven some of the industry’s largest leaps forward. In Singapore, the company launched the first-ever robotaxi pilot and in Las Vegas, it operates the longest-standing commercial robotaxi service. That service has provided more than 100,000 rides with zero at-fault incidents. Earlier this year, Motional also became among the first in the world to operate fully driverless vehicles on public roads, following a robust two-year safety evaluation process.
"We believe collaboration between our industry and innovative government partners like TfNSW is critical to making driverless vehicles a safe, global reality. We’re looking forward to working with TfNSW to better understand NSW’s transportation infrastructure, mobility needs, and how driverless vehicles can play a positive role. The work we are doing will lay the groundwork to inform important decisions about this technology down the road,” said Gretchen Effgen, Vice President of Go To Market and Marketing, Motional.
This announcement was originally published by TfNSW
