Renault abandons driverless cars, turning to minibuses instead

Renault has announced it will no longer invest in developing fully autonomous cars, preferring to apply its next-generation tech to create driverless minibuses based on its Master van.

The French manufacturer says it has made the switch because current regulations would forbid its cars from operating in fully autonomous mode, making the tech redundant.

The company also says the cost of rolling out Level 3 autonomy would be prohibitive.

Renault will continue to offer its lower-grade Level 2 and Level 2+ autonomous driving aids with its adaptive cruise control system, which makes its vehicles “safe and pleasant to drive with confidence”.

However, the huge technical complexity between Level 2 and Level 3 means “at this stage, the induced cost to be borne by customers in relation to the driving benefits would make demand insufficient or even anecdotal”.

“Innovation only makes sense if it is shared, economically accessible and genuinely useful to as many people as possible,” the company said.

Mercedes-Benz is currently one of the few car-makers to have already deployed its Level 3 tech, which only works in special geofenced areas and is restricted to speeds up to 60km/h.

Crucially, while its autonomous Drive Pilot is operating, Mercedes-Benz remains legally liable for any mistakes or collisions caused.

The Level 3 tech includes Lidar sensors, cameras, HD 3D mapping and even microphones. It can even perform an emergency procedure if the driver doesn’t take back control after numerous prompts.

With all those hurdles to be overcome, Renault says it will apply its tech to a robotised electric minibus based on the Renault Master van – a radical departure from the 2017 Symbioz concept that suggested Renault passenger cars would be driverless by 2030.

The new robobus will be designed to reduce fleet running costs and improve safety. It will be developed in partnership with Sino-American tech company WeRide, which already has a trial involving Level 4 autonomous shuttles on public roads.

With 700 vehicles already testing globally, the tech start-up says it has already racked up a combined 27 million kilometres of real-world testing.

Renault and WeRide will run an experimental shuttle service at next month’s French open tennis tournament in Paris.

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