Stellantis NV, the world's fourth-largest automaker, announced on Tuesday that it will collaborate with Estonian ride-hailing platform Bolt to deploy autonomous vehicles in Europe, with road tests scheduled to begin in 2026.
The partnership will integrate Stellantis' dedicated autonomous vehicle platform with Bolt's ride-hailing network, which serves over 200 million customers across more than 50 countries and regions, including 23 EU member states.
In a joint statement, the two companies stated that the deployment will gradually expand from prototype vehicles and test fleets to industrial-scale production, with an initial target set for 2029.
They added that they will work closely with European regulators to ensure the technology complies with regional safety, cybersecurity, and data protection standards.
Under the agreement, Stellantis will provide its "AV-Ready Platform," specifically the eK0 medium-sized van and STLA Small Platform, which are designed for Level 4 autonomous driving. This level of automation means the vehicle can operate without a driver under specific conditions.
In August, Stellantis paused its first Level 3 advanced driver-assistance program due to high costs, technical challenges, and concerns about consumer demand.
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