Volvo will work closely on the development of autonomous driving

Zenuity will be split into two parts to maximize the development of its autonomous and assisted driving software.

Zenuity is currently the 50-50 joint venture between Volvo Cars and Veoneer. It is the company developing assisted and autonomous driving software, and from now on it will divide its work phases into two parts. The goal is to maximize the potential of developments across its projects.

This is how the split would work

The first part is a new independent company, focused on the development and commercialisation of autonomous driving software. This part will be owned by the Volvo Cars group. The second part will focus on the development and commercialisation of these advanced driver assistance systems. This part will be owned by automotive safety equipment company Veoneer.

In short, under joint ownership, Zenuity has developed a robust software platform for driver assistance and autonomous driving systems, which both parties will develop and continue to refine.

Once these parts were set out, the next step has been the transfer of Zenuity’s operations and staff, based in Gothenburg and Shanghai, to the new company that will be owned by Volvo Cars. Meanwhile, Veoneer will receive the transfer of operations and staff based in Germany and the United States.

According to the chief executive of Volvo Cars, the company has committed to introducing unsupervised autonomous driving on motorways that is safe, for its next generation of vehicles. These models will be based on the new architecture of the Swedish firm, SPA2.

The new company and the working process are expected to begin operating from the third quarter of 2020. According to the information, at the latest. The operation may even begin earlier than planned.