SIXT and Mobileye have announced the plan for the new robotaxi service at IAA Mobility, with the autonomous service expected to begin in Munich in 2022.
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and Sixt SE Co-CEO Alexander Sixt have today (September 14th) announuced the introduction of a driverless Robotaxis to drive their taxis around Munich.
They have said that:
“This strategic collaboration is the next step in expanding our integrated mobility platform ONE and underlines our company’s evolution towards becoming the industry’s leading provider of innovative and digital premium mobility. We are delighted to leverage the remarkable technology leadership of Mobileye to bring driverless mobility to customers in Germany and beyond.”
The pairing companies are aspiring to scale the driverless ride-sharing services across Germany and other European countries later this decade.
Passengers will be able to access the service via the Moovit app and the SIXT app- the robotaxi service will also be included in SIXT’s holistic mobility platform ONE, where car sharing, subscriptions and car rental can be accessed.
Customers received a first look at the service as Alexander Sixt demonstrated the operation at IAA Mobility and also unveiled the vehicle which will carry out the service in Germany. This is also the first time Mobileye has publicly displayed its fully integrated self-driving system, known as Mobileye Drive, in a vehicle that will be used for commercial, driverless ride-hailing services.
A recently enacted autonomous vehicle (AV) law permits driverless vehicles on German roads, allowing Mobileye robotaxi’s to begin early-rider testing on Munich streets in 2022. The fleet will thereafter move from test to commercial operations upon regulatory approval.
“Germany has shown global leadership toward a future of autonomous mobility by expediting crucial AV legislation,” Gelsinger said. “Our ability to begin robotaxi operations in Munich next year would not be possible without this new law.”
The collaboration with SIXT is the first known commercial robotaxi service between a tech supplier and a mobility services provider. “With strong logistics and operational partners like SIXT, Mobileye can bring the promise of full autonomy to life in cities around the world,” said Mobileye CEO Prof. Amnon Shashua. “We’re delighted that Germany is a first mover.”
Alexander Sixt, Co-CEO of Sixt SE, added: “This strategic collaboration is the next step in expanding our integrated mobility platform ONE and underlines our company’s evolution towards becoming the industry’s leading provider of innovative and digital premium mobility. We are delighted to leverage the remarkable technology leadership of Mobileye to bring driverless mobility to customers in Germany and beyond.”
Mobileye will own the robotaxi fleet used in the Munich service, while SIXT will draw upon its established expertise in providing, maintaining and operating the fleet. The vehicles will include the MoovitAV service and SIXT branding once the service launches in Munich, to make it easy for customers to distinguish between traditional ride-hailing and the autonomous fleet vehicles.
