Earlier this week GM Israel's Herzliya development center unveiled its autonomous car prototype in Tel Aviv at the conference of veterans of the IDF 8200 signals intelligence unit. Israel's Ministry of Transport has provided GM with a permit to test out a number of these autonomous cars on Israel's roads and they have already been issued with license numbers. At the same time Mobileye(NYSE: MBLY) has also received a similar permit to test out autonomous cars.
GM's vehicle, which is based on the Chevrolet Bolt, an electric car, is equipped with an advanced array of sensors and data processors that will enable it to travel without a driver.
GM Israel general manager Gil Golan said, "As a graduate of the 8200 unit myself I see the integration of the unit's graduates as an important advantage over other companies and our senior management recognizes the quality human resources that the unit supplies."
He added, "General Motors is building a complex and thrilling enterprise that requires us to hire experts from various disciplines to expand the development of cars as far as possible for the autonomous vehicles market. In Israel we are forming a team, which is responsible, creative and understands the broad importance of the significant challenges that we are confronting. What we are developing today in Israel could contribute to and influence the future of transportation, lifestyle and culture generally."
General Motors is already conducting trials of autonomous vehicles in the US with hundreds of cars equipped with technologies developed at their R&D center.
In addition, Israeli teams have coordinated the new generation of communications and online service systems for GM's OnStar unit, which will be installed as accessories in hundreds of thousands of GM cars.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 15, 2017
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