Uber just bought a shedload of self-driving Volvo XC90s

Volvo and Uber have signed an agreement. This agreement is for Volvo to sell “tens of thousands” of its cars to the ride sharing company between 2019 and 2021.

Oh, and they’ll have autonomous driving capabilities. That’s right, Uber just bought a shedload of self-driving Volvos.

Apparently, Uber’s engineers worked closely with Volvo to develop the rather serene – and lovely – XC90 for a future in the late night, post-pub run back home. As you’d expect, much of it focused on safety, as well as the “core autonomous driving technologies” Uber needs for its future self-driving fleet.

Volvo will also use the SPA-platformed car to develop its very own self-driving technology, too, the culmination of which you’ll hopefully see in 2021.

“Our aim is to be the supplier of choice for AD ride-sharing service providers globally,” explains Volvo boss Hakan Samuelsson.

“We’re thrilled to expand our partnership with Volvo,” Uber’s head of auto alliances, Jeff Miller added. “This new agreement puts us on a path towards mass produced self-driving vehicles at scale.”

With question marks hanging over Uber’s London licence, this announcement appears concrete proof that if all goes to (Volvo's and Uber’s) plan, your dash across town could be in an autonomous XC90.

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