One of the world’s first driverless, on-demand vehicles is now in Perth.
The RAC Intellicar was officially unveiled there on September 12.
Designed as a shared mobility service, the RAC Intellicar will become the newest addition to RAC’s automated vehicle program, supported by the State Government and vehicle manufacturer Navya.
The arrival of the prototype vehicle is a significant transportation milestone for both Western Australia and Australia, RAC group chief executive officer Terry Agnew says.
“How we move around is rapidly evolving and being able to test emerging vehicle technologies right here in WA will help us adapt to these changes in the safest way possible,” he says.
“Human error is the cause of the vast majority of road deaths and serious injuries, so if we can help WA and Australia safely transition to driverless vehicles sooner, hundreds of Australian lives could be saved.
“Every year, the cars we drive are becoming increasingly automated, and the adoption of these new technologies by manufacturers is only accelerating.
“Over coming years, vehicle automation will become more prolific within our transport network, which is why it’s critical we conduct trials like these to better understand the potential impacts and opportunities.”
Agnes says having a robust understanding of the technology and what it means for WA will help develop a roadmap for the safe transition to a driverless future.
“Australia is a strategic place to test, showcase and deploy new technologies in the region,” Navya chief executive officer Christophe Sapet says.
RAC expects to take delivery of additional Intellicars later this year.
Over coming months RAC will work with the State Government to identify potential trial locations, with public trials planned for 2019.
Visit rac.com.au/intellicar for further information.
