The UK Government has announced the launch of three new public trials of self-driving vehicle services by 2021. These include a 14-mile autonomous bus service across the Forth Bridge from Fife to Edinburgh in Scotland; and self-driving taxi services in London. The London projects will be led by Addison Lee (Project Apollo) and Jaguar Land Rover (Project ServCity).
The three projects were chosen following a competitive tender process and will share GBP 25 million in Government funding through the 4th round of the Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Intelligent Mobility Fund. Project Apollo will develop and deploy four autonomous taxi pilot services in Greenwich, building on the work of the government-backed DRIVEN consortium. Project ServCity will develop a mobility service in London using six autonomous Land Rover Discovery Vehicles. Project CAV Forth will operate five single-decker buses to provide a service capable of carrying up to 42 passengers across the Bridge to the Edinburgh Park Train and Tram Interchange.
