Bolt plans Madrid autonomous-driving programme for 2027 with NVIDIA technology
Bolt expects to start gathering driving data in Madrid in 2027, subject to regulatory approval, as it prepares a wider European robotaxi programme.
Bolt plans to begin an autonomous-driving programme in Madrid in 2027, Reuters reported on 21 October, making the Spanish capital the proposed starting point for its European robotaxi effort with NVIDIA technology. NVIDIA says the initial work would gather real-world driving data and is subject to regulatory approval.
Bolt expects ‘tens of vehicles’ on Madrid’s streets next year, according to Reuters. That is the company’s expectation for the pilot, while approval and the precise start date remain unsettled. The programme would give Bolt a place to collect driving data before its planned expansion to other European cities.
Why Bolt chose Madrid for its 2027 pilot
Jevgeni Kabanov, Bolt’s head of autonomous driving, said Madrid was chosen because the region has created a testing permit that allows limited commercial operations without full approval, Reuters reported. The permit framework explains the choice of city; Bolt’s proposed programme still depends on the regulatory clearance NVIDIA identified in its announcement.
Kabanov also said the driving software runs entirely inside the vehicle, without an internet connection, for cybersecurity reasons, according to Reuters. That describes the planned system’s operating approach as Bolt prepares to test it on public roads.
How the Madrid plan fits a wider European rollout
NVIDIA says Bolt selected its Alpamayo Stack for the European robotaxi programme, starting with future Lucid vehicles built on NVIDIA Hyperion. The companies plan to adapt the software to European roads and integrate it into vehicles from multiple manufacturers. NVIDIA describes at least 25,000 future Lucid vehicles capable of level 4 autonomous driving as part of the planned European rollout, rather than a Madrid fleet size.
Bolt aims to enter other Western European cities before the end of 2027 and is targeting major cities in France and Germany, Reuters reported. NVIDIA separately names Germany as a priority for future deployment. Those expansion plans extend beyond the Madrid data-gathering phase and remain dependent on their execution and the applicable approvals.
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Sources and context
- Bolt, Nvidia to kickstart driverless taxi programme in Madrid during 2027Channel NewsAsia (Reuters)
- European Mobility Leaders Build Safe Vehicles and Robotaxi Fleets on NVIDIA HyperionNVIDIA Newsroom
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.