Delphi Automotive PLC has been selected by the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) as a strategic partner to implement autonomous mobility concepts.
Delphi will provide a fleet of fully autonomous vehicles and will develop a cloud-based mobility-on-demand software (AMoD) suite, opening up new potential autonomous markets for Delphi’s customers. Delphi will conduct a trial of an urban, point-to-point, low-speed, autonomous, mobility-on-demand service in Singapore’s Autonomous Vehicles Test Bed located at One North, a business park in the western area of the city.
“We are honored to partner with the Singapore LTA on advancing innovative mobility systems, which will put Singapore at the forefront of autonomous vehicle adoption,” said Kevin Clark, president and CEO, Delphi. “This is a great recognition of Delphi’s leadership in advanced safety technologies, automated software and systems integration, as well as our ability to drive these mobility solutions forward for our customers.”
Delphi’s AMoD development program and autonomous vehicle demonstration is part of the Singapore Autonomous Vehicle Initiative (SAVI), which was formed in 2014 to oversee and manage autonomous vehicle (AV) research, test-bedding and the development of applications and solutions by industry partners and stakeholders.
Of particular interest to the Singapore LTA is the potential for automated driving solutions to make it easier for commuters transiting the “first mile” and “last mile” between a mass transit station and their home or workplace. By addressing this need, the usage of the mass transit systems could increase, reducing overall traffic congestion and vehicle emissions.
Delphi is using its participation in SAVI to develop new products and capabilities to serve its global customers. “As a partner in SAVI, Delphi will use a foundation of the same vehicle technologies that enabled us to successfully complete the first coast-to-coast autonomous drive of the United States in 2015,” said Jeff Owens, chief technology officer, Delphi. “Developing a cloud-based software servicing capability integrated with the vehicle creates an end-to-end solution that will eventually allow our existing, and many potential new customers, the ability to enter emerging mobility markets.”
Delphi says developing a true end-to-end automated vehicle ecosystem, including a cloud-servicing capability, opens a host of new business opportunities for the company to offer its existing and potential customers in mobility and connectivity, logistics, agriculture and mining, according to the company.
Delphi’s technology solution is vehicle agnostic and can be applied in passenger cars, buses, commercial vehicles, purpose-built mobility pods and electric vehicles. AVs provide the opportunity to facilitate efficient urban and suburban vehicle sharing, autonomous bus or taxi services, logistics and long-distance truck platooning.
The Singapore LTA pilot program will last for three years with plans to transition into an operational service by 2022 timeframe. Other pilots are planned by Delphi for locations in North America and Europe in the future.
