Published

Mercedes to Supply Self-Driving Cars to Uber

Under a new partnership, Daimler AG plans to provide Mercedes-Benz self-driving vehicles to Uber Technologies Inc.’s ride-hailing fleet.

Share

Under a new partnership, Daimler AG plans to provide Mercedes-Benz self-driving vehicles to Uber Technologies Inc.’s ride-hailing fleet.

Daimler will develop the autonomous technology used in the vehicles. No timetable or financial terms for the program were given.

Last year Uber announced a $300 million deal with Volvo Car Corp., which is supplying vehicles for Uber to retrofit with its own automated driving technology. Those vehicles are part of Uber’s test fleet in Arizona and Pennsylvania that also includes specially equipped Ford Fusion sedans.

Noting that Uber has no experience in making cars, CEO Travis Kalanick says partnerships with manufacturers such as Daimler will be critical for the Silicon Valley-based company’s success. Uber hopes to lower costs and improve efficiency with self-driving taxis.

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche has met with Kalanick several times in recent years and once described him as a "frenemy." Zetsche says mobility service providers such as Uber are an ideal platform for autonomous driving technology.

RELATED CONTENT

  • Jeeps Modified for Moab

    On Easter morning in Moab, Utah, when the population of that exceedingly-hard-to-get-to town in one of the most beautiful settings on Earth has more than doubled, some people won’t be hunting for Easter eggs, but will be trying to get a good look at one of the vehicles six that Jeep has prepared for real-life, fast-feedback from the assembled at the annual Easter Jeep Safari.

  • Choosing the Right Fasteners for Automotive

    PennEngineering makes hundreds of different fasteners for the automotive industry with standard and custom products as well as automated assembly solutions. Discover how they’re used and how to select the right one. (Sponsored Content)

  • We Can’t Unwatch this McLaren

    While we generally can’t say enough (which brings us close to saying much, much too much) about McLaren Automotive design and its exquisite use of materials, this week the company launched a product that is something we wish we didn’t see: That’s the RM 11-03 McLaren Automatic Flyback Chronograph, which the company debuted at the 88th Geneva International Motor Show.

Gardner Business Media - Strategic Business Solutions