The hype around self driving cars has very much taken a back seat to electrification in recent years and part of the reason for this is the sheer complexity in getting cars to operate on public roads, especially in a mixed setting with other human road users. However, the development of autonomous vehicles is far from over, it is just that it is likely to take a less mainstream route.  

The Renault Group has provided a clear indication of how it sees self-driving vehicles developing with a proposed concentration on autonomous shuttles operating in a restricted environment. With regard to passenger cars the Group says that it sees advanced driver assistance systems meeting 90% of car buyer needs. 

Renault CTO Gilles Le Borgne commented, “Ninety percent of customer expectations are already met with Level 2 plus.  We’ll stay on the safe and affordable side of this line for passenger cars, but we also want to work on Level 4 to meet public transport needs.”

Le Borgne stressed that Renault do not see passenger cars going to the self driving Level 3, saying “We are a popular brand, and we don’t want to invest in Level 3 because it’s too costly and too hard for our customers to afford it.”

However, Renault has said it will work with the Chinese company WeRide to develop autonomous minibuses, on its electric van platform. Test vehicles will be operating at the French Tennis Open. This is a Level 4 vehicle with no driver, but it can only operate in defined situations.