BMW, Intel and Mobileye to Build Self-Driving Car

BMW iNext, Intel, Mobileye, Self-Driving Car

BMW, Intel and Mobileye have announced that they are working on an open project - BMW iNEXT - to build the next generation of autonomous vehicle to be available on the market from 2021.

The collaboration between leaders in the automotive and technology industries respectively will see them attempt to produce an alternative autonomous vehicle solution to a number of rivals including Tesla and Google. However, with the project being open it will allow their findings to be made available to other car makers and industries.

Mobileye is a relatively new name to many but it has forged a strong reputation developing ground-breaking technology in the autonomous vehicle field. The Israeli technology company began providing car video camera sensors and has grown to develop technology bundles that go beyond simply preventing collisions. Its most recent success has been working with Tesla to produce the Autopilot feature.

The iNEXT project will aim to  “develop future-proofed solutions that enable the drivers to not only take their hands off the steering wheel, but reach the so-called ‘eyes off’ level and ultimately the ‘mind off’ level transforming the driver’s in-car time into leisure or work time,” according to BMW.

The possibilities for autonomous driver fleets will be made possible once the project reaches the ‘driver off’ stage. This will have a significant global impact upon how many businesses manage their transport solutions creating a workforce that can run non-stop, except for service upgrades and maintenance.

In addition to fleet solutions the BMW iNEXT project could reach into automated ride sharing where entire highways and cities are used by autonomous vehicles.
Autonomous vehicles have generated an enormous amount of interest from the media and public alike but is it just us or do we not want to give up driving? Part of the fun is having the wheel in your hands and being in control of your hard earned pride and joy. Why would somebody want to lose this?

In addition to personal preferences, there are an enormous amount of legal and safety issues to consider with autonomous vehicles including establishing fault in the case of an incident. This past week saw a Tesla Model S with Autopilot enabled involved in a fatal crash in Florida, USA.

The next wave of self-driving cars are just around the corner. If you're looking for parts for your car in the present day click here to shop our store.