According to recent reports from foreign media, a French startup named Navya is aiming to challenge the dominance of major players like General Motors (GM) and Alphabet in the self-driving car market. Since July this year, Navya's driverless buses have become a prominent feature in the Paris business district, showcasing the company’s progress in autonomous transportation.
Navya is currently developing a smaller vehicle designed for up to six passengers. The model is priced at 250,000 euros (approximately $290,000), with an expected launch within the next year. The Robotaxi prototype was unveiled in Paris on November 7, 2017. The company has expanded its ambitions beyond just manufacturing, as it now focuses on both automotive design and R&D software to accelerate the development of fully autonomous vehicles. Navya CEO Christophe Sapet emphasized in an interview that they are the first to create a fully autonomous vehicle from scratch, rather than retrofitting existing models. "We want to be the first to deliver a fully automated driving car," he stated.
Meanwhile, GM has been investing heavily in its car-sharing service Maven and its Cruise Automation division, which is testing self-driving cars. Investors believe that if GM wants to establish a profitable robotaxi business, it needs to focus on two key areas. On the other hand, Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving division, has partnered with FCA to use their vehicles for testing purposes.
Entering the automotive industry is no small feat. Dyson, for example, plans to invest £2 billion (about $2.7 billion) into electric vehicle development by 2020, even before venturing into autonomous technology. The company has 400 engineers working on this project, while Navya operates with a much smaller team.
Sapet mentioned that Navya's robotaxi can reach a maximum speed of 80 mph (50 km/h) and will soon be tested on the streets of Paris. It is set to launch in the third quarter of 2018. Early adopters include the French traffic operator Keolis and the Royal Automobile Club of Australia, who have already ordered 30 units. Potential clients also include major companies like Uber, Hertz, Avis Budget Group, Apple, Renault, and Volkswagen.
However, Navya faces challenges, as many of these potential customers are also developing their own self-driving technologies. Moreover, the journey from concept to reality is complex, as seen with companies like Tesla. In October, Navya’s competitor NuTonomy was acquired by Delphi for $450 million. Despite this, Navya's small buses are gaining traction. The company has invested in a Michigan factory and aims to launch 450 smaller buses by the end of next year. However, when seeking investor funding, Navya has faced some skepticism. Last year, the company raised 30 million euros, and it is prepared to secure more capital to build its new vehicle.
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