Renault has announced that it will no longer focus on developing high-level autonomous functions for passenger cars. Instead, the company will shift its attention to offering self-driving public transport solutions. This decision is based on current regulations, customer expectations, and the cost of the complex technology involved.
Renault already provides “top-level driving assistance” on most of its models, including features like adaptive cruise control, overtake assist, and lane-keep assist. These Level 2 or 2+ autonomous features enhance the safety and driving experience of Renault vehicles.
However, there is a significant technological gap between these features and Level 3 autonomous functions. Level 3 autonomy requires the vehicle to operate safely in complex environments with limited driver supervision. Renault believes that the cost of implementing Level 3 functions would outweigh the driving benefits at this stage, resulting in insufficient demand.
Renault’s decision to prioritize self-driving public transport solutions aligns with its belief that innovation should be economically accessible and useful to as many people as possible. The company plans to develop high-level autonomous functions for shared public transport, including a “robotized electric minibus” based on the new Renault Master van.
While integrating advanced autonomy into these vehicles may increase development and production costs, Renault suggests that the absence of a paid driver could offset these expenses. An entire fleet of vehicles could be remotely supervised by a smaller workforce.
To further their autonomous vehicle strategy, Renault Group has partnered with WeRide, a Sino-American technology company. WeRide currently operates 700 autonomous vehicles globally, accumulating a combined total of 17 million miles. The companies will conduct an experimental shuttle service using WeRide’s Robobus at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris.
Renault’s Chief Technology Officer, Gilles Le Borgne, sees this collaboration as a significant step towards bringing self-driving vehicles to production. He believes that Renault will be able to propose a relevant range of autonomous, low-carbon minibuses well before the end of the decade to meet the growing needs of different regions.
Renault’s decision to shift away from high-level autonomy for private cars is in line with Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer’s perspective. Schäfer emphasizes that the focus for volume brands should be on hands-off highway assistance and parking. He believes that customer expectations for complex driving situations in busy cities like London or Beijing are limited, and they are not willing to pay a significant premium for advanced autonomous features.
In conclusion, Renault’s decision to prioritize self-driving public transport solutions and discontinue the development of high-level autonomous functions for passenger cars is driven by current regulations, customer expectations, and cost considerations. The company aims to offer shared autonomous vehicles that are economically accessible and useful to a wide range of people. This strategic shift aligns with the perspective of other industry leaders, indicating a trend towards focusing on hands-off highway assistance and parking rather than complex urban driving situations.