Autonomous driving development will play role in partnership, but when will we see these systems in JLR models?
- Nvidia’s Drive computers will be featured in all new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles starting in 2025.
- The tech giant will work with JLR on autonomous tech as well, including its testing, ahead of the likely debut of Level 3 systems in the coming years.
- Nvidia’s partnership with JLR follows similar agreements announced in recent years with Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, among others.
Jaguar Land Rover is the latest company to reveal a partnership with tech giant Nvidia, with the automaker planning to develop AI-enabled services and automated driving systems in a partnership with the Silicon Valley powerhouse. More than simply working on higher levels of autonomous tech with the automaker, Nvidia will provide the software for all new Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles starting in 2025, which is also the year that all new models introduced by the the two brands will be electric-only.
This means that all future JLR models will feature the Nvidia Drive software-defined platform, which will include automated driving, advanced driver assistance (ADAS), and active safety systems. The company describes Drive Orin as the AI bran of the car, running the Jaguar Land Rover operating system, while Drive Hyperion is described as the central nervous system that includes the surround sensors.
“Next-generation cars will transform automotive into one of the largest and most advanced technology industries,” said Jensen Huang, Nvidia founder and CEO. “Fleets of software-defined, programmable cars will offer new functionalities and services for the life of the vehicles. We are thrilled to partner with Jaguar Land Rover to reimagine the future of transportation and create the most advanced cars.”
The automaker is still leaving itself some plenty of room to maneuver when it comes to specific promises of autonomous driving capabilities and timelines, as well as how these systems will be sold to buyers. Jaguar has been working with Waymo for several years on the autonomous driving front, providing the I-Pace for Waymo’s testing of higher autonomous driving features. But while Waymo has certainly used those vehicles for a fleet of prototypes, Jaguar’s consumer offerings in this sphere have not materialized; the automaker seems content sitting out the Level 2 era of ADAS systems, perhaps after having witnessed the experiences of others in this field that have released software too early or overpromised.
Speaking of autonomous driving software, Nvidia will also provide its DGX system for training AI models and Drive Sim software based on Nvidia Omniverse that will be used to test autonomous software. But just like the automaker, Nvidia is shying away from concrete timelines for the arrival of Level 4 and Level 5 technology. The company has previously hinted that its Orin hardware will be capable of Level 5 automation, but the software for such a system is a different matter entirely, as are other items.
Overall, it is expected that Jaguar will offer Level 3, which is sometimes referred to as eyes-off, mind-off systems that do no require constant driver supervision but require drivers to remain awake, in its cars in the coming years.
Almost two years ago Nvidia and Mercedes-Benz had announced plans for a similar partnership, with Nvidia’s tech playing a role in Mercedes’ own development of autonomous driving.
Keyword: Jaguar Land Rover and Nvidia Team Up on Software