Bolt has announced a partnership with electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid to develop and launch autonomous ride services across Europe, with plans to deploy at least 25,000 self-driving vehicles on its platform.
The companies said the autonomous fleet will be built on Lucid’s forthcoming Midsize vehicle platform, with vehicles designed for ‘Level 4’ autonomous driving, a term denoting cars that can operate without human intervention in most circumstances. The platform is expected to use
Nvidia’s Hyperion autonomous vehicle architecture, which Bolt said combines high-performance computing with a standardised sensor suite.
The mobility company added that the deployment represents a significant milestone towards its longer-term ambition of operating 100,000 autonomous vehicles on its platform by 2035.
Under the agreement, Bolt will take responsibility for defining vehicle requirements including software, safety systems and the passenger experience alongside Lucid. Bolt will also build the fleet infrastructure, operational systems and city partnerships needed to commercialise the service, with plans to own and operate the autonomous fleet.
Lucid will lead the partnership through its newly established Lucid Technologies division, which brings together the company’s AI, advanced driver assistance systems, autonomy and digital technology operations.
The companies said they will also work with autonomous driving technology partners, regulators and policymakers to support the safe introduction of autonomous mobility services across European markets.
“Autonomous driving in Europe requires data, software, vehicles, and operations to work as one system built for European roads and regulation,” said Markus Villig, founder and chief executive of Bolt. “Lucid brings a world-class platform, and together, we will co-design the vehicle and software based on our data and more than a decade of operating experience across more than 850 cities. No one is better placed to operate autonomous mobility services efficiently at scale.”
In August, Uber launched autonomous vehicle rides in Europe, allowing customers in Zagreb, Croatia, to book self-driving journeys through its app for the first time.
The service is powered by autonomous driving technology from Pony.ai and operated by mobility company Verne. It marks the first deployment of autonomous rides on the Uber platform in Europe.
Earlier this month, Uber and vehicular AI provider Wayve launched supervised autonomous rides in London, making it the first city in the UK where members of the public can book autonomous vehicle journeys.
The initial rollout uses 15 supervised autonomous vehicles, with a trained Transport for London-licensed private hire driver remaining onboard to oversee each trip. Uber said every autonomous vehicle operating on its platform must meet its safety guidelines.
The company plans to expand the service gradually in line with customer demand, regulatory developments, and operational readiness.
