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TECHNOLOGY Wednesday 14 June 2017

GM raises output of self-driving Bolts, boosts test fleet

DEE-ANN DURBIN
AP Auto Writer
DETROIT (AP) — Gen-
eral Motors Co. says it
has built 130 self-driving
Chevrolet Bolt electric
cars at a factory in sub-
urban Detroit, making
it among the first auto-
makers to mass produce
self-driving vehicles.
The automaker has been
building self-driving Bolts
at its Orion Assembly
Plant in Orion Township,
Michigan, since January.
Unlike GM’s earlier self-
driving test vehicles, the
new cars were built on
the same assembly line
as regular Bolts that are
being sold to customers.
Once they rolled off the
line, the self-driving Bolts
went to another area of
the plant to get com-
puters, sensors and other A self-driving Chevrolet Bolt EV that is in General Motors Co.’s autonomous vehicle development program appears on display,
hardware installed. The Tuesday, June 13, 2017, at GM’s Orion Assembly in Lake Orion, Mich.
cars use software from Associated Press
Cruise Automation, a said. But he thinks all au- sdale, Arizona; and the GM’s second-genera- Lyft and Fiat Chrysler
self-driving startup GM tomakers will soon be Detroit area. Barra says tion self-driving software will impact GM. But Bar-
bought in 2016. mass-producing vehicles the new vehicles will and hardware. The cars ra said GM’s partner-
GM CEO Mary Barra that are modified for self- help GM accelerate its have multiple cameras ship with Lyft was never
wouldn’t say Tuesday if driving as they start to testing in urban environ- and 40 sensors, includ- meant to be exclusive.
the company plans to build up larger test fleets. ments, which are among ing a radar system that “We’re working together
make more self-driving “It makes sense to do the most challenging scans around corners for in one space and com-
Bolts. that engineering up for autonomous cars to oncoming traffic. Five peting in another,” she
What GM is doing is front, because other- navigate. spinning Lidar cylinders said.
similar to what Waymo wise you have to tear up GM eventually plans to on top of the car use Karl Brauer, the senior
and Fiat Chrysler did last the car later to add the place self-driving Bolts lasers to make a three- director of content at
year, says Sam Abuel- hardware,” he said. in ride-hailing fleets in dimensional map of the Cox Automotive, says no
samid, a senior analyst The Bolt is a fully electric major U.S. cities. But un- area as the vehicle is single company is doing
with Navigant Research. car that went on sale like other automakers driving. everything related to au-
Fiat Chrysler assembled late last year. It can go — who are generally GM won’t say how much tonomous driving as well
100 hybrid Chrysler Paci- 238 miles on a charge, targeting 2020 or 2021 each vehicle costs. as companies working
fica minivans with modi- and is ideal for use as an for autonomous vehicle GM has been working together, like Waymo
fied wiring and then sent autonomous vehicle be- fleets — Barra is giving with Lyft on autonomous and FCA or the recently
them to Waymo, which cause its electric system no target date. She said vehicle research since announced collabora-
installed the hardware can charge the com- the company has set in- early last year, when it tion between BMW, In-
and software needed to puters needed for self- ternal targets, but it’s not invested $500 million in tel and Mobileye. But he
make them self-driving. driving capability. GM announcing them be- the San Francisco-based said GM seems to be the
Fiat Chrysler is currently has sold around 6,000 cause it wants to make ride-hailing company. furthest along in terms of
building an additional Bolts in the U.S. so far this sure the vehicles are safe More recently, Lyft has its partnerships — with
500 Pacificas for Way- year. before they’re released. partnered with some Cruise and Lyft — and
mo. The new cars will join “Gaining our customers’ of GM’s rivals, includ- development of self-
The main difference is 50 self-driving Bolts with trust is extremely impor- ing Waymo and Jaguar driving cars.
that GM is doing the older technology that tant,” she said. Land Rover. GM shares were down
modifications under are already being tested The self-driving version of It’s unclear how Way- 11 cents to $34.57 in ear-
one roof, Abuelsamid in San Francisco; Scott- the Bolt is equipped with mo’s tie-ups with both ly afternoon trading.q