Volvo plans to launch a Level 2++ hands-free driving system by 2030 using Nvidia's Hyperion platform and Alpamayo software, replacing previous lidar-dependent projects.
Volvo plans to launch hands-free, point-to-point driving by 2030, powered by Nvidia’s latest AI technology. The Chinese-owned, Swedish-designed automaker said Thursday it would use Nvidia’s autonomous driving stack to power a new partially automated driving system similar to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised).
Volvo says the new point-to-point system will be Level 2++, meaning it can handle complex urban environments, including traffic lights, stop signs, and unprotected left turns without explicit driver control. In addition to Tesla’s FSD, it will also resemble the Nvidia-powered system that Mercedes-Benz recently rolled out for the all-new CLA sedan, said Ali Kani, VP and general manager of the automotive team at Nvidia, in an interview with The Verge.
The automaker will use Nvidia’s Hyperion platform, which includes the chipmaker’s high-powered silicon, as well as additional sensors mounted around the vehicle so the car can see and perceive its surroundings. Volvo will also utilize Nvidia’s Alpamayo software, which uses “reasoning” models to make sense of complex road conditions and plan where to steer, brake, or accelerate. The setup will not include lidar, though it could include the laser sensor if Volvo decides to add it in the future.
By expanding its preexisting partnership with Volvo, the automaker is trying to correct some of its failed automated driving projects of the past. The automaker had to effectively sideline its Ride Pilot Level 3 unsupervised autonomous driving system in the US after failing to obtain regulatory approval. Volvo also planned to add lidar sensors to some of its models, but that plan fell away after its supplier Luminar went bankrupt.
Volvo is also bringing its own reputation for safety to the table. Volvo software chief Alwin Bakkenes told Reuters the first release will be “supervised,” noting that the driver stays engaged with the vehicle.
The partnership marks a strategic pivot for Volvo, moving away from the regulatory challenges of Level 3 autonomy and the financial instability of lidar suppliers toward a supervised, AI-driven approach. By leveraging Nvidia’s existing software and hardware stack, Volvo aims to deliver complex urban driving features within a regulatory framework that keeps the driver responsible, aligning with current industry standards for partially automated systems.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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