Volvo revealed this week that it plans to introduce a true hands-off, eyes-off autonomous driving system on a subscription basis in its upcoming EVs, including the electric version of the successor of the current XC90 SUV, due to arrive later this year under a new name. The system, dubbed Ride Pilot, will function on highways and will allow drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel and their eyes off the road, making it an SAE Level 3 system in contrast to Tesla's Autopilot, which requires drivers to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the steering wheel, but still be ready to take over when the system notifies the driver. This system will be similar in capability and requirements to Honda's own Level 3 system, which has been introduced in the Legend sedan in Japan.

The software for Ride Pilot was created by autonomous developer Zenseact along with developers from Luminar, as well as Volvo's in-house engineers. The sensor suite will include eight cameras, five radars, 16 ultrasonic sensors, and Luminar's Iris LiDAR sensor.

"By using Ride Pilot, drivers will be able to free up time while driving, and spend it on secondary activities such as reading, writing, working, or socializing," the automaker says.

Volvo says that the system will only be available in California at first, and will still be subject to regulatory approval. The upcoming electric successor to the XC90 will arrive on sale later this year, but it may still take a bit more time for Ride Pilot to be activated in the vehicles themselves, which will, of course, feature over-the-air updates.

"We are proud to announce the planned US launch of our first truly unsupervised autonomous driving feature, as we look to set a new industry standard for autonomy without compromising safety," said Mats Moberg, head of research and development at Volvo Cars. "Having Zenseact's brand-new AD software and Luminar's LiDAR standard in our new fully electric SUV is a game-changer for Volvo Cars, as well as for automotive safety and autonomous driving."

When Ride Pilot arrives it should be among the most capable autonomous systems deployed in private passenger cars, simply due to the fact that it is expected to be an SAE Level 3 system.

A number of developers, including GM's Cruise, are currently planning to roll out Level 4 robotaxis in a number of cities in the US. But Level 4 technology, which takes over all driving tasks in a geofenced environment, is not close to being introduced in private vehicles. GM is also working on Ultra Cruise, which is expected to offer hands-off driving in 95% of all driving scenarios, according to the automaker, but not eyes-off, mind-off capability. As such, Ultra Cruise is still expected to be an SAE Level 2 system, like Autopilot and GM's own Super Cruise, albeit with a number of enhanced capabilities like driver attention monitoring.

The autonomous driving industry in the US is now at a stage where there are several Level 2 systems on the market, while the introduction of Level 3 systems is currently being held back by a number of factors, including widely varying regulations across jurisdictions (50 states plus the District of Columbia). This is one of several reasons a number of automakers have held off on introducing Level 3 systems. This includes Mercedes-Benz, which will introduce its Drive Pilot Level 3 system in Germany this year.

At the same time, a handful of developers are working toward introducing completely driverless Level 4 robotaxis in the US in cities that will allow them, while Level 5 autonomy is still far on the horizon, with few expecting it to materialize in consumer form this decade.

Volvo hasn't indicated just how much the subscription to Ride Pilot will cost drivers per month, or how soon it expects it to become available in other states. The electric successor to the XC90, meanwhile, will be revealed later this year as a 2023 model year vehicle.

Volvo Trucks has just announced the sales start for its three-strong lineup of electric trucks, the FH, FM and FMX. Tractor models will enter production first, but rigid versions will join them towards the end of 2022, giving the truck manufacturer the widest range of heavy duty electric vehicles in Europe.

The FH Electric and FM Electric are seen by Volvo Trucks as versatile electric haulers for local (i.e. short) transport duties. The FMX Electric is more capable off-road, so it can be used in a wider range of applications, although it is primarily aimed at the construction industry.

Orders for its electric trucks began rolling in months before the official start of sales, according to the manufacturer. Volvo Trucks says it has had over 1,100 inquiries from 20 countries, including letters of intent to buy.
According to Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks,

This is a milestone for Volvo Trucks. There is a lot of interest from customers to place orders for these fantastic trucks. Until now we have mainly offered customers and partners to sign letters of intent to buy, but now we start to sign firm orders, which is a major step forward for electrification

These are not the first electric Volvo trucks, though. First were the 16-ton FL Electric and 27-ton FE Electric introduced in 2019 as vehicles for local distribution, garbage collection, as well as possible urban transport applications. With battery packs ranging between 100 and 300 kWh, the lighter FL can do a claimed 186 miles (300 km) on one charge, while the heavier FE only musters 124 miles (200 km) WLTP.

Next, in December 2020, came the VNR Electric model built in the US for the North American market, available in many configurations, initially with a 264 kWh battery pack. Volvo Trucks subsequently gave it bigger batteries (375 and 565 kWh), that in the 4x2 increased the claimed range from 150 to 230 miles.
In total, with the three new additions, Volvo Trucks has a total of six electric trucks (albeit all just electric versions of diesel trucks for now), but it wants half of the trucks it makes to be electric by 2030.

Volvo has announced today that it’ll electrify its entire lineup in the US for the 2023 model year. No, not every model is going fully electric just yet. It means each Volvo model will feature some form of electrification, ranging from mild hybrids to plug-ins to full EVs. Volvo is also making a range of updates to its XC40 crossover.

The change will see the Volvo XC90, C60 Cross Country, and the XC40 now offer mild-hybrid engines. This is a step toward the company’s promised future of becoming a fully electric vehicle brand by 2030. The updated product portfolio gives customers a range of electrified options tailored to their lifestyle and charging situation.

Volvo updates the XC40 by giving it a new frameless grille plate and a new front bumper, aligning the design of the XC40 hybrid with the updated all-electric XC40 Recharge. Volvo also gives the Thor’s Hammer headlight signature a new shape. Inside the 2023 XC40, the company will offer premium leather-free upholstery options, which customers can pair with new exterior color and wheel choices.

Volvo will also roll out its built-in Google assistant in the XC40 and across the entire 2023 Volvo range. The system will allow Volvo to offer over-the-air updates to its vehicles, which could bring improved features and services to customers after they have purchased the vehicle.

The 2023 update also brings a range of styling updates across several other models. These include new colors, wheels, and interior options. The S60, V60, and V60 Cross Country get a new front grille design and updated rear bumper inserts. Volvo is also eliminating trim lines, allowing customers to combine the exterior design, interior upholstery, and equipment levels of their choice.

Volvo says that its 2023 lineup is now in production. The updated products will arrive at US dealers sometime this summer, including the updated XC40. Volvo’s updated product portfolio firmly stakes out its position on electrification while giving customers the choice of picking the electrified vehicle that best suits them.

Volvo Trucks will deliver 20 fully electric heavy-duty trucks to Amazon in Germany by the end of the year. The FH Electric trucks are expected to drive more than one million road kilometers annually.
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Around 36% of Germany's domestic transport emissions are taken up by heavy goods vehicles and other commercial vehicles. That's why decarbonization is a critical issue to address.

Volvo Trucks started series production for its Volvo FH, Volvo FM, and Volvo FMX heavy-duty trucks in September this year. The trucks have a GCW (Gross Combination Weight – the maximum loaded weight) of up to 44 tonnes (97,000 lbs.), and these three models represent around two-thirds of the company's sales.

Jessica Sandström, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Volvo Trucks, said, "Globally, we now have six electric truck models ready to order and in series production to meet the increasing demand for decarbonizing goods transports. This is an encouraging step forward for reducing climate change impacts,"

Amazon is committed to decarbonizing its fleet, and this acquisition is marking a critical milestone for the tech giant. This step is part of its fast-growing commercial transportation electrification programs. The trucks will replace their diesel counterparts.

Volvo Trucks has a range of six fully electric trucks designed for different transport purposes. By 2030, the company aims to reach a global target of 50% of all new trucks sold to be taken up by electric vehicles. Currently, more than 2,600 electric trucks in total have been sold.

The Volvo FH Electric has a battery capacity of 520 kWh and a power output of 490 kW. Its range is up to 300 km (186 miles), but it can cover up to 500 km (311 miles) in a typical workday if a top-up charge is added during the day.

Electrification is a trend that's happening in various industries worldwide; it's a good thing that big corporations are taking steps to decarbonize their vehicles and setting an example for the rest of the world.