Volvo taking 100 self-driving cars to the streets in world first

Google's self-driving car has completed hundreds of thousands of test miles within the past two years, paving the way for autonomous driving technology. The world's largest automakers are scrambling to catch the tech giant. Nissan has even set a date, promising electric self-driving vehicles on the road by 2020. Volvo, too, has jumped in with both feet, unveiling its concept for a self-parking car controlled via a phone application earlier this year.

Now, the Swedish manufacturer has gone a step further, announcing a program named "Drive Me" that will see 100 self-driving cars hit the streets of Gothenburg, Sweden, by 2017.


Volvo's commitment to self-driving machines is evident. And, like most major automakers, the brand has its prototype autonomous vehicles racking up the test miles already. The Drive Me project, however, will be the first mass group of self-driving cars mingling with the general public, piloted (or babysat) by hand-selected, real Volvo customers.