Skip to main content

Volvo predicts it will have fully autonomous cars for sale by 2020

Volvo is putting its Krona on the table. Many car manufacturers are promising that by 2020 they will have semi-autonomous cars, meaning the driver will still have to pay attention. The Swedish car company has now said its systems will have learned enough and be safe enough that the “driver” won’t have to supervise, according to Tech Insider. Other manufacturers will be still in driver-management mode.

“The thing that is unique is that we are really trying to deploy the technology in reality. And when I say that, I mean self-driving cars that allow drivers to do something else behind the steering wheel,” said Erik Coelingh, senior technical leader for safety and driver support technologies.

Recommended Videos

Volvo is using Nvidia’s GPU-based deep-learning system with its DriveMe program, Nvidia recently told Digital Trends. By 2017 DriveMe will be launched in London, several cities in China, and in Gothenburg, Sweden, with 100 specially equipped XC90s in each country. Ordinary families will drive the Volvos in a wide variety of circumstances and conditions. While they drive, the systems will capture the data and the aggregate will be used by the machine learning programs behind the Nvidia system. During testing, the drivers will supervise the driving, but the result of the testing will be the big win, a self-driving system that has been tested internationally with ordinary drivers.

“What is unique with DriveMe, is that we are not only building a concept car or doing demos, we are really doing research to help us understand how we can bring self-driving cars to the real world, to public roads with ordinary customers behind the wheel,” Coelingh said.

“And by accomplishing that objective, we will learn about the reality of self-driving cars, that it’s not just a fantasy. We will learn about technology, we will learn about the human factors, and how self-driving cars will impact society.”

Volvo has previously stated that by 2020 no one will be killed or seriously injured in one of its new cars. The company believes that this real-world family testing will make it possible. The advantages of self-driving vehicles will be in the areas of safety, congestion, pollution, and time-savings, according to Volvo.

Volvo CEO and President Håkan Samuelsson said, “Autonomous driving represents a leap forward in car safety. The sooner [self-driving] cars are on the roads, the sooner lives will start being saved.”

Volvo will introduce an autopilot in 2017 similar to the current Tesla system, but by 2020 the firm fully expects and intends for its driverless technology to be truly autonomous. Volvo has no plans at this time to include road testing in the U.S. because different laws and guidelines in the 50 states make it impossible to complete credible testing.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown Contributing Editor   As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…
Waymo and Volvo ink deal to build an all-new electric robo-taxi
2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan Waymo Self-driving Test Fleet

 

Waymo has inked a deal with Volvo to develop an all-new driverless electric vehicle for ridsharing use, the two companies announced on Thursday, June 25.

Read more
You can now lease a Hyundai EV on Amazon—and snag that $7,500 tax credit
amazon autos hyundai evs lease ioniq 6 n line seoul mobility show 2025 mk08

Amazon has changed how we shop for just about everything—from books to furniture to groceries. Now, it’s transforming the way we lease cars. Through Amazon Autos, you can now lease a brand-new Hyundai entirely online—and even better, you’ll qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit if you choose an electric model like the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, or Kona EV.
Here’s why that matters: As of January 2025, Hyundai’s EVs no longer qualify for the tax credit if you buy them outright, due to strict federal rules about battery sourcing and final assembly. But when you lease, the vehicle is technically owned by the leasing company (Hyundai Capital), which allows it to be classified as a “commercial vehicle” under U.S. tax law—making it eligible for the credit. That savings is typically passed on to you in the form of lower lease payments.
With Amazon’s new setup, you can browse Hyundai’s EV inventory, secure financing, trade in your current vehicle, and schedule a pickup—all without leaving the Amazon ecosystem.
It’s available in 68 markets across the U.S., and pricing is fully transparent—no hidden fees or haggling. While Hyundai is so far the only automaker fully participating, more are expected to join over time.
Pioneered by the likes of Tesla, purchasing or leasing vehicles online has been a growing trend since the Covid pandemic.
A 2024 study by iVendi found that 74% of car buyers expect to use some form of online process for their next purchase. In fact, 75% said online buying met or exceeded expectations, with convenience and access to information cited as top reasons. The 2024 EY Mobility Consumer Index echoed this trend, reporting that 25% of consumers now plan to buy their next vehicle online—up from 18% in 2021. Even among those who still prefer to finalize the purchase at a dealership, 87% use online tools for research beforehand.
Meanwhile, Deloitte’s 2025 Global Automotive Consumer Study reveals that while 86% of U.S. consumers still want to test-drive a vehicle in person, digital tools are now a critical part of the buying journey.
Bottom line? Amazon is making it easier than ever to lease an EV and claim that tax credit—without the dealership hassle. If you're ready to plug in, it might be time to add to cart.

Read more
Gemini AI coming to cars as Android Automotive update suggests it’s due soon
The 6.8-inch Pioneer digital media receiver installed in a vehicle's dashboard.

Google appears to be getting ready to sends its Gemini AI into cars through an Android Automotive update.

This would make sense as Android Automotive already uses Google's Assistant to help with those much-needed in-car hands-free requests.

Read more