An automated ride-sharing pilot project will be launched during the second half of 2019 in California’s third most populated city. This is not the first such project to be attempted in the US but as technology progresses at an incredibly rapid rate, real-world testing such as this is necessary.
The pilot project will use automated Mercedes-Benz S-Class vehicles and will serve a selected user community in the San Carlos/Stevens Creek corridor between downtown and west San José.
Population in this area is expected to grow exponentially over the next few decades, as it will many urban centers through the US and Canada. This program will help shape the future of urban mobility in these densely populated areas.
These fully automated driving (SAE Level 4/5) cars will supply information about how they can realistically fit into a multi-modal transportation network. The on-demand ride-hailing service app operated by Daimler Mobility Services will also connect multiple mobility services (car2go, mytaxi and moovel) providing a completely centralized car-sharing experience.
Is the future automated? Daimler And Bosch are working hard on the answer.