- Nvidia revealed the next S-Class will feature a Level 4 autonomous system.
- This means owners could relax in the back seat while the car drives itself.
- Stellantis teamed up with Uber, Foxconn, and Nvidia to offer L4 robotaxis.
Stellantis reportedly shelved their Level 3 semi-autonomous driving system earlier this year, but that hasn’t stopped the company from announcing a global robotaxi partnership. It will see the automaker team up with Uber, Foxconn, and Nvidia to jointly develop and deploy driverless vehicles worldwide.
The partnership is being billed as a match made in heaven as it will combine Stellantis’ global vehicle engineering and manufacturing expertise with Nvidia’s autonomous driving software and AI computing technology.
More: Lucid Teases $50K Mid-Size SUV As It Readies L4 Autonomous Driving
The initiative will also draw on Foxconn’s electronics and systems integration capabilities and Uber’s experience leading global ride-hailing operations. Together, the companies intend to create a scalable framework that can support the next wave of autonomous mobility.
On the vehicle side of things, robotaxis will be based on the STLA Small platform and K0 mid-sized vans. The latter include the Citroën SpaceTourer, Peugeot Expert / Traveller, Opel / Vauxhall Vivaro, and Fiat Scudo / Ulysse.
The robotaxis are slated to use the Nvidia Drive AGX Hyperion 10 autonomous vehicle architecture, which includes the DriveOS operating system as well as Drive AV software. This will give them Level 4 autonomy and the vehicles will have redundancies for safety.
It everything goes according to plan, robotaxis will go into production in 2028 and they’ll initially be deployed in the United States. The companies are aiming to start with around 5,000 robotaxis and the effort will eventually expand to select cities worldwide.
We can expect to learn more in the coming years as the companies will test prototypes and launch pilot programs.
This will take time, but Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa said “Autonomous mobility opens the door to new, more affordable transportation choices for customers. We have built AV-Ready Platforms to meet growing demand, and by partnering with leaders in AI, electronics, and mobility services, we aim to create a scalable solution that delivers smarter, safer, and more efficient mobility for everyone.”
Mercedes Is Planning A Level 4 S-Class
In other autonomous driving news, Nvidia revealed the Mercedes S-Class will offer an “exceptional chauffeured Level 4 experience combining luxury, safety and cutting-edge autonomy.”
This would be a huge development as Level 4 systems have traditionally been limited to robotaxis instead of privately owned vehicles.
This would be a game changer and a development that would make competitors look like old school horse and buggies. Instead of driving to work, you could theoretically pop in the back seat, get comfortable, and catch up on emails or take a nap while the car does all the work.
Nvidia Drive AGX Hyperion 10 Powers The Future
Automakers didn’t go into many specifics, but Nvidia revealed the Drive AGX Hyperion 10 platform features the Thor system-on-a-chip as well as the previously mentioned DriveOS. These are supported by a multimodal sensor suite that includes a lidar sensor, 14 high-definition cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and nine radars.
The company also noted “Hyperion 10 is modular and customizable, allowing manufacturers and AV developers to tailor it to their unique requirements.” This suggests there might be some variations between automakers deploying the same technology.
