Stellantis and Bolt have signed a technological agreement aimed at accelerating the development of cars with level 4 autonomous driving systems (that is, without a driver), in order to use them in shared mobility services in Europe. The partnership combines the AV-Ready Platforms of the Italian-French manufacturer (the medium van eK0 with the STLA Small architecture) and the mobility services of Bolt, which operates in over 50 countries, 23 of which are in the European Union (EU). On the agenda is the start of the testing phase during 2026. By 2035, Bolt aims to have 100,000 autonomous vehicles.
In vehicles equipped with the latest technology in terms of sensors, computing, and redundant systems, to ensure the highest levels of reliability and safety, the goal is to provide shared mobility services in autonomous, driverless cars, while simultaneously optimizing the cost of ownership for the operator. “Our AV-Ready Platforms offer the necessary flexibility to provide the best possible experience for European customers. Fleets of autonomous vehicles can contribute to reducing the carbon footprint, as they enable shared and optimized mobility, which reduces traffic congestion and emissions of pollutants. The partnership with Bolt aims to bring this vision closer to reality, combining our engineering expertise with the operational reach of our partner, in the hope of integrating driverless mobility into everyday European life,” said Antonio Filosa, CEO of Stellantis.
The action plan provides that fleets of test vehicles will be operational as early as next year, in various European countries. There will be a progressive expansion of the number of units, up to the possibility of integrating them on an industrial scale, with the ambition to start series production by 2029. The success of the project will rely on close collaboration and communication with European regulatory bodies, in order to carry out all phases in compliance with data protection and cybersecurity standards.
“This partnership brings together two companies that understand the specific dynamics of Europe. By combining Stellantis’s AV-Ready Platforms with our operational expertise, we create the best offering of autonomous vehicles tailored to European needs, which millions of people will be able to use. The partnership marks the next step in our ambition to have 100,000 autonomous vehicles on the Bolt platform by 2035,” commented Markus Villig, founder and CEO of the Estonian multinational specialized in mobility.
