Renault has held its view on autonomous cars for some time now. The French automaker is now putting its words into action with its latest autonomous vehicle, which is expected to hit the market within three years. However, it is not a car.
Behind the Scenes of Autonomous Vehicle Development
There are ups and downs, but behind the scenes, most automakers continue to work on autonomous cars. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, remains convinced that this technology is crucial for the value and survival of his company in the medium term, despite lawsuits over unfortunate fatal accidents.
Read also: Renault does not believe in autonomous cars.
A little help from the Master
This idea of changing the game has been proposed to several executives, but Renault decisively changed course last year after exploratory applications in prototypes such as the Morphoz. Through its technical director, Gilles Le Borgne, Renault stated last year that it no longer believed in cars that relieve the driver of all tasks. Anything that needs to be regulated above 60 km/h is not up to par, according to the French automaker, which would compromise the accessibility of the range. Therefore, Renault sticks to Level 2+ for its passenger cars, which means an intelligent cruise control capable of adapting to lanes, turns, or, if necessary, a roundabout. No driverless passenger cars, then, but with the windshield logo.
Higher Levels of Autonomous Driving
However, the French automaker still envisions higher levels, with Level 5 allowing for fully autonomous driving in all conditions. It turns out the word “car” is poorly chosen. Renault is focusing on its electric Master as a technology carrier. Based on this platform, the brand is launching tests with a shuttle. It is not on a closed factory site for the brand. During Roland Garros, taxis will be tasked to transport VIPs. Like in aviation, the shuttles are equipped with backup systems in case of problems. There is always an operator on board, although they are only supposed to intervene in complex situations or when the shuttle is blocked.
Seven Times Cheaper than a Tram
The test conducted during the French Open is not just a publicity stunt, as Renault has done its homework. According to the French automaker, up to 400 cities could be interested. They could play a role in cities needing to reduce pollution, such as Paris or Lyon in France, with speeds between 30 km/h and 70 km/h. The shuttles can carry 20 people. They are Level 4 – not yet the highest – meaning they can operate autonomously in a defined environment, here, a part of the city of Paris.
During the presentation, Le Borgne stated about Level 5: “There are still some ongoing experiments for this level, but we are making more and more progress.” Above all, Renault considers its mobility solution an alternative to public transport. He emphasized that autonomous shuttles are easily seven times cheaper per kilometer than a tram, which involves a lot of infrastructure. The cost per kilometer is also twice as low as a bus’s.
Concrete Plans for the Future
Renault’s plans are, therefore, concrete. There will be a test in Châteauroux in 2026, after which commercialization is planned for 2027 or 2028, depending on the test results. The French automaker thus aims to get closer to concepts already marketed in major Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, or Shenzhen, as well as in the American city of San Francisco. This comparison is no coincidence. The development of this shuttle was carried out by the Chinese company WeRide. Renault has a stake in this startup, the only one in the world with autonomous shuttles operating on three continents.
Moreover, Tesla is open to these forms of shared mobility, too. On August 8, it will unveil its robot taxi, a compact autonomous vehicle halfway between a shuttle and a passenger car.
