Self-driving vehicle production to start in New Zealand

Production of self-driving vehicles in New Zealand will be started before 2019 by Ohmio Automotion, launched on September 12.

The company showcased three shuttle buses featuring self-driving vehicle technology developed by Auckland-based HMI Technologies, already trialling self-driving technology in Australia and New Zealand.

Fully operational prototypes of the electric Ohmio Hop shuttles carried passengers, including school children as they performed, on a circuit around the Christchurch Art Gallery.

Ohmio claims to be one of the first companies whose shuttles can form a connected convoy.

A connected convoy can move extremely efficiently and safely together in formation, which Ohmio says makes its vehicles the world’s first self-driving and scalable transport solution.

In another advancement from similar shuttles on the market, Ohmio vehicles include self-mapping artificial intelligence.

After they have completed their route once, they are able to self-drive the route continuously.

The importance of this ability is that the vehicles can be quickly deployed and relocated as required.

A range of four Ohmio models is planned for production before 2019, from small to large shuttles and freight pods. Vehicles will be adapted to suit their customer.

All models will be built around the innovative technology developed by parent company HMI Technologies, which specialises in intelligent transport systems (ITS).

HMI has been developing and manufacturing ITS solutions for 15 years, with customers including governments and transport agencies.

The company intends working with customers to ensure the vehicles can be on public roads in the very near future.

“The testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles elsewhere is slowed down by legislation or requires special permits,” HMI Technologies founder Mohammed Hikmet says.

“Here in New Zealand, the government already allows for testing of driverless vehicles. That gives Ohmio an advantage as we scale up and develop our technology, especially as we understand regulations here and in Australia.”

Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel is excited by the Ohmio technology and what it means for the city’s future.

She says the city is “seizing the opportunity to become a testbed for emerging technologies” and could help rewrite the regulatory framework for using autonomous vehicles on New Zealand roads.

HMI has three autonomous vehicle trials at Christchurch International Airport, at Olympic Park in Sydney with state authority Transport for New South Wales, and La Trobe University, Melbourne.

Ohmio is initially targeting commercial campuses, airports, city centre precincts, amusement parks or retirement villages.

“The Ohmio Hop vehicles are fully electric and designed to be a last mile solution, carrying people and their luggage short distances,” HMI chief executive officer Stephen Matthews says.