Motor Expo 2026

Volvo, another famous brand striving to develop autonomous vehicle technology, with the goal of making cars drive themselves like expert drivers. Recently, Volvo Cars in Sweden introduced a unique technology that allows cars to drive themselves on real roads, with the driver sitting without having to control the car.

The project is named Drive Me which is now entering its second year, and Volvo Cars is preparing to produce 100 cars for users in Gothenburg, Sweden, to test by 2017. This test is a collaboration with several government agencies, including traffic law enforcement, the Department of Land Transport, and the City of Gothenburg Office, to lead towards sustainable and accident-free travel in the future.

• Reclaiming Lost Time

Volvo Cars has designed a highly efficient self-driving car system by comprehensively analyzing the probability of errors in various situations, using advanced technology for motion detection systems, cloud-based positioning, intelligent braking systems, and high-level technology for controlling vehicle direction.

Dr. Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Volvo Car Group, said: “We are entering a world no one has traveled to yet. Self-driving car technology will change everything we know about travel. In the future, we will be able to choose whether to drive the car or let the car drive us. This will turn lost time into time we can utilize, whether for work or entertainment.”

• Not Just a Demonstration, But a Step Further

Volvo Car's autopilot system is designed to be reliable, allowing the car to take control of all driving situations when commanded by the autonomous driving system. Volvo Car's technology has been developed to the point where it is ready to handle errors and emergencies, using the same principle as the aviation industry: a backup system will immediately take over if something in the autopilot system fails.

Dr. Erik Kohlin, technical expert at Volvo Cars, said:  “It is easy to create and demonstrate a self-driving prototype car. But if you want to make a real difference in real life, you must design and produce a car system that is both safe and reliable, at a price that car users can afford to own.”

• Precisely Calculating Situations

When on the road, perfect technology will be able to perform well even in complex situations, from driving on open roads to heavy traffic jams and emergencies. Erik Kohlin said: “The car must have the same level of capability as an experienced driver in reading situations and responding correctly. Furthermore, in the event of a sudden emergency, the car will be able to respond faster than a human.”

In cases where the autonomous driving system cannot operate, whether due to unfavorable weather conditions, vehicle malfunction, or the end of the road, the system will notify the driver to take over. If the driver cannot take over, the car will drive itself to a safe stop.

• Benefits for Consumers and Society

Beyond making life easier and giving us back time, self-driving cars also have a positive impact on the environment.

Volvo Cars believes that autonomous driving systems can help save fuel consumption. This technology will improve traffic management and also provide opportunities for more efficient urban planning and infrastructure development.

“The invention and management of self-driving car technology is a significant step for Volvo. When testing begins, we will gain a lot of useful data from real-life traffic and help us see clearer ways to drive sustainable life on the road. Intelligent cars are an important component of this mission, but connecting the social dimension is indispensable for sustainable development. This cooperation is the key to success in developing self-driving cars,” Erik Kohlin concluded.

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