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Developer nuTonomy invited a select group of people to download
their app and ride for free in its "robo-taxi" in a western
Singapore hi-tech business district, hoping to get feedback
ahead of a planned dull launch of the service in 2018.
"This is really a moment in history that's going to change how
cities are built, how we really look at our surroundings,"
nuTonomy executive Doug Parker told Reuters.
The trial rides took place in a Mitsubishi i-MiEv electric
vehicle, with an engineer sitting behind the steering wheel to
monitor the system and take control if necessary.
The trial is on an on-going basis, nuTonomy said, and follows
private testing that began in April.
Parker, whose company has partnered with the Singapore
government on the project, said he hoped to have 100 taxis
working commercially in the Southeast Asian citystate by 2018.
Nutonomy is one of several companies racing to launch
self-driving vehicles, with automakers and technology firms
striking new alliances.
Swedish automaker Volvo AB said last week it had agreed to a
$300 million alliance with ride-hailing service Uber [UBER.UL]
to develop a driverless vehicle.
Israeli driving assistant software maker Mobileye NV said its
vehicle, developed with Delphi Automotive Plc, would be ready
for production by 2019, while Ford Motor Co said its
self-driving car was slated for 2021.
(Writing by Patrick Johnston; Editing by Robert Birsel)
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