Intel Corp. today announced that it’s teaming up with auto parts giant Benteler International AG and transportation startup Beep Inc. to deploy fully autonomous shuttles in the U.S.

The planned shuttles are set to feature so-called Level 4 autonomy, meaning they will be capable of driving without any human input. Reuters reported that the vehicles will be electric and won’t feature a steering wheel or pedals. Each shuttle is expected to have 12 to 14 seats.

The shuttles’ Level 4 autonomy features will be powered by Intel’s Mobileye Drive autonomous driving system. Mobileye Drive consists of two main components: a suite of sensors that a vehicle can use to gather data about the environment and an EyeQ system-on-chip for running autonomous driving software.

Intel previewed its newest EyeQ chip, the EyeQ Ultra, at CES 2022 last month. The chip is specifically geared towards powering Level 4 vehicles such as the shuttles the company is developing with Benteler and Beep. The EyeQ Ultra can carry out 176 trillion computing operations per second, Intel says, which makes it about 10 times faster than the company’s earlier EyeQ5 chip. 

“The full benefits of autonomy can only be reached with scale,” said Johann Jungwirth, vice president of Mobileye’s mobility-as-a-service group. “Working with Beep and Benteler, Mobileye aims to mass-produce first- and last-mile self-driving mobility solutions that will enable the convenient, accessible and safe movement of people across North America.” 

The shuttles will be designed and assembled by Germany-based Benteler, a major auto parts supplier with more than 27,000 workers worldwide. The company’s Benteler EV Systems subsidiary, which specializes in electric vehicles, is leading the effort.

The shuttles are set to be based on the company’s Electric Drive System, a customizable electric vehicle chassis that auto designers can equip with different combinations of features based on a given project’s requirements. One version of the Electric Drive System includes an inductive charging feature that allows vehicles to be charged wirelessly. 

Beep, the third participant in the autonomous shuttle development effort, is a Florida-based transportation startup. It specializes in operating autonomous shuttle services. In the initial phase of the partnership, Beep will assist Intel and Benteler with vehicle development.

Beep currently runs autonomous shuttle services in more than half a dozen locations throughout the U.S. The startup’s experience in operating autonomous vehicles on public roads should prove valuable for Intel and Benteler during the commercialization phase of the shuttle development project.

The partnerships that Mobileye maintains with major automakers could also advance the commercialization effort. More than 60 million vehicles worldwide feature advanced driving assistance systems based on Mobileye’s technology. Through those vehicles, the Intel subsidiary plans to collect road data with the goal of using the information to help autonomous vehicles make better driving decisions. Intel might have an opportunity to use Mobileye’s road data to enhance the capabilities of its planned autonomous shuttles. 

The companies expect that their autonomous shuttles will be ready to operate on public roads in the U.S. by 2024. Eventually, Intel, Benteler and Beep also intend to bring the shuttles to other countries.

General Motors Co.’s Cruise unit is also developing an autonomous shuttle. Cruise said last year that production of the shuttle, which has no steering wheel or pedals, is expected to begin in early 2023. 

Image: Intel