Volvo CEO: Self-driving trucks will be used in confined areas in five years

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Technology around self-driving cars is developing quickly, and might outrun moral debates or legislation on liabilities, said Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO of transport giant Volvo Group in its Innovation Summit on Wednesday in Beijing.

As one of the leading companies in the autonomous vehicles field, Volvo unveiled its latest hub-to-hub self-driving truck earlier this week at the said summit. The truck can identify surrounding objects base on GPS and LiDAR technology (Light Detection and Ranging) and automatically drive between them.

Lundstedt said Volvo believes that automation is among the core technologies regarding transport sector in the future, and will help push forward sustainable development and also lift production for the society.

Volve’s new hub-to-hub self-driving truck. /CGTN Photo

“You can use fuel much more efficient and thus reducing energy consumption, which means that autonomous driving is better for the environment,” said Lundstedt.

Despite all the moral and legal discussions drawn from self-driving-related car accidents, the Volvo Group CEO still thinks that new technology is actually adding to safety and reducing fatalities on the road, something that the existing automation assistance in brake systems and parking operations are already doing.

Lundstedt also expects autonomous vehicles to come into service in five years, starting from closed areas, such as mines, ports or quarries where the vehicles can be more easily controlled, before gradually moving into public roads in cities.

However, Lundstedt said it will take longer time for fully automated vehicles to hit the road, probably beyond 10 years.

“Because it’s more to a point about how do we define liabilities, responsibilities and also how do we have regulations placed, that might be the longer case than the technology itself,” said Lundstedt.

CGTN's Wang Hui speaks with Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO of transport giant Volvo Group. /CGTN Photo

When asked about the new changes this new self-driving truck will bring, Lundstedt said it will make transportation safer, more efficient and environmental friendly.

Lundstedt also talked about the safety issue of self-driving vehicles, especially who should take the responsibility, when an accident happens.

“I think we should take a step back and say, regardless what will be the unresolved discussion on the liability, everyone understands and knows having automation into the system will increase the safety levels. That we have seen automated features that we have been introducing. We know that those systems have been increasing the safety level and reducing the fatalities in the road, ” said Lundstedt.

“Without taking a step forward, I think it’s very important to have a good consultation about the kind of situation, before we come into a firm conclusion, on who’s liable, ” added Lunstedt.

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