In the northern city of Brescia, Italy, a groundbreaking test was conducted on a self-driving vehicle designed for car sharing. Utility company A2A and its partners unveiled the initiative on Wednesday, featuring a Stellantis electric FIAT 500 city car. The vehicle autonomously traveled a kilometer at 30 km/h, starting at a charging station and stopping at a parking area to simulate a customer experience.
This test marked a pioneering achievement in Europe. For each trial, a supervisor and a control room will oversee the vehicle, with a safety car accompanying to alert other road users of the autonomous test on public roads. The self-driving car can also independently charge at A2A's charging stations.
A2A's collaboration with Politecnico di Milano university and Italy's National Sustainable Mobility Centre aims to support urban decarbonization, reduce traffic, and enhance environmental sustainability, as outlined by CEO Renato Mazzoncini.
Mazzoncini expressed the necessity for Europe to match China and the United States in advancing autonomous driving technology: "Europe cannot lag behind." The experimental phase will run until November, with regular tests scheduled throughout Brescia, including the historic center and surrounding areas.
Matteo Sergio Savaresi of Politecnico emphasized the transition from experimental to practical use, stressing the removal of the safety driver requirement in compliance with European legislation.