Volvo Cars and Autoliv INC are due to establish a jointly owned company, to create the next generation’s autonomous driving software. The new company will create advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous drive (AD) systems. They will be developed for Volvo car use but will also be sold globally to all other carmakers.

Transforming road safety

Volvo has the reputation for being a safe carmaker, and was the original inventor of the three-point safety belt and developed active and passive safety systems within its cars. By 2020, Volvo aims to ensure that nobody is killed or seriously injured in its cars.

Håkan Samuelsson, President and Chief Executive of Volvo Cars, said: “By combining our know how and resources we will create a world leader in AD software development”. Autoliv has led the way in development and introduction of active and passive safety technologies, selling these to carmakers for over 60 years.

Jan Carlson, Chairman, Chief Executive and President of Autoliv, added: “This new company is a recognition of the fact that autonomous driving is the next step to transform road safety.”

The new joint company will be based in Sweden with workers from both companies. The company is expected to start operations in the beginning of 2017.

Edited from press release by Ruby Arenson