Tech company to launch driverless cars in the US this year

folarin okunola

August 18, 2016 6:11 PM

Although the rollout of its first driverless cars is a milestone for Uber, not everyone with links to Uber should be happy about it.

Uber's driverless Volvo XC90 car

Uber is set to launch its first fleet of driverless cars in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US later this year, according to media reports.

Bloomberg reports that the autonomous cars are modified Volvo XC90 sport-utility vehicles and starting from this month Uber users in Pittsburgh will be able to request them in the downtown area.

However, the autonomous cars will not just roll upon the curb solo.

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Uber will still have human drivers in the driver's seat to make sure the ride goes smoothly and to be there to take over from the autonomous vehicles in case of an emergency.

According to the Bloomberg report, Uber's goal is to replace its more than 1 million human drivers with robots "as soon as possible."

folarin okunola