Mobileye and SIXT to launch new robotaxi service

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and Sixt SE Co-CEO Alexander Sixt announced at the IAA Mobility conference on Tuesday a collaboration to begin offering a driverless robotaxi service in Munich starting next year.

Intel subsidiary Mobileye will own the robotaxi fleet while SIXT, a leading international provider of mobility services headquartered in Germany, will operate and maintain the vehicles. Riders can hail one of the robotaxis using either the Moovit app or the integrated SIXT app for ride hailing, vehicle rental, car sharing and car subscriptions.

The autonomous robotaxi option will be part of the ride-hailing service SIXT ride and was demonstrated during Alexander Sixt’s keynote walk-on. Mobileye also unveiled the vehicles – branded with MoovitAV and SIXT – that will be produced in volume and used for the robotaxi service in Germany. It is the first time Mobileye has publicly displayed its fully integrated self-driving system, known as Mobileye Drive, in a vehicle that will be used for commercial, driverless ride-hailing services.

A recently enacted autonomous vehicle (AV) law permits driverless vehicles on German roads, allowing Mobileye robotaxis to begin early-rider testing on Munich streets in 2022. The fleet will thereafter move from test to commercial operations upon regulatory approval. “Germany has shown global leadership toward a future of autonomous mobility by expediting crucial AV legislation,” Gelsinger said. “Our ability to begin robotaxi operations in Munich next year would not be possible without this new law.”

The collaboration with SIXT is the first known commercial robotaxi service between a tech supplier and a mobility services provider. “With strong logistics and operational partners like SIXT, Mobileye can bring the promise of full autonomy to life in cities around the world,” said Mobileye CEO Prof. Amnon Shashua. “We’re delighted that Germany is a first mover.”

Alexander Sixt, Co-CEO of Sixt SE, added: “This strategic collaboration is the next step in expanding our integrated mobility platform ONE and underlines our company’s evolution towards becoming the industry’s leading provider of innovative and digital premium mobility. We are delighted to leverage the remarkable technology leadership of Mobileye to bring driverless mobility to customers in Germany and beyond.”