Skip advert
Advertisement

Volvo won’t implement full self-driving technology until it’s “100 per cent safe”

Volvo’s safety expert says FSD needs to have a perfect environment to meet firm’s standards

Volvo EX90 - front tracking

Full self-driving cars gained fresh impetus earlier this year when the UK government passed the new Automated Vehicles Act, but safety experts from Volvo have questioned the viability of the technology and its potential real-world use. 

Speaking to Auto Express, Claudia Zarre, a safety manager at Volvo, denounced the feasibility of full self-driving cars. “Fully autonomous car safety is dependent on the conditions. We need a perfect environment for it to meet our standards,” Zarre said, referring to road markings, signs and general road conditions. “Volvo full self-driving won’t arrive until we know it’s 100 per cent safe,” she added. 

The company unveiled a fully autonomous car, the 360c, way back in 2018 as a rival to not only cars, but also public transport. Since then, Volvo’s all-electric flagship, the EX90, has been launched, and while early models don’t feature Level 3 hands-free motoring, this autonomous technology will soon arrive via a Lidar pod on the new car’s roof. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

A Volvo spokesperson has since said, "we remain committed to introducing autonomous drive (AD) technologies, which we believe will make the safety systems more and more capable in the future and help us get closer to our ambition of zero collisions in new Volvo cars." 

The Swedish company is not alone in developing such tech. Tesla recently announced its self-driving Robotaxi, which comes without a steering wheel. The compact two-seater was claimed to have a provisional launch date of 2027, although such a car would currently not be legal on UK roads.

Would you trust a self-driving car? Let us know in the comments section below...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Alastair Crooks, Staff writer Auto Express
Senior news reporter

A keen petrol-head, Alastair Crooks has a degree in journalism and worked as a car salesman for a variety of manufacturers before joining Auto Express in Spring 2019 as a Content Editor. Now, as our senior news reporter, his daily duties involve tracking down the latest news and writing reviews.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Volvo plots new Range Rover rival, and it'll dwarf the XC90
Volvo XC90 - front cornering

Volvo plots new Range Rover rival, and it'll dwarf the XC90

Volvo’s design boss is eager to bring a new ‘F-segment’ SUV to market, and it could arrive before the end of the decade
News
28 Sep 2026
Skoda boss joins Volvo: Klaus Zellmer is Swedish brand's new CEO
Volvo XC60 - front

Skoda boss joins Volvo: Klaus Zellmer is Swedish brand's new CEO

Volvo’s appointed a new boss as it readies for a huge 13-model offensive
News
21 Sep 2026
Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2026, 2027 and beyond
Best new cars coming soon 30/06/26

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2026, 2027 and beyond

Here are the most important new cars from Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
21 Sep 2026
Volvo to go new car crazy with 13 models by 2030
Volvo badge 2026

Volvo to go new car crazy with 13 models by 2030

The Swedish firm has committed to launching seven all-new cars for Western markets, including hybrid and pure-electric models
News
17 Sep 2026

Most Popular

New Polestar 2 will ‘beat’ BMW i3, according to dynamics boss
Polestar 2 - exclusive image

New Polestar 2 will ‘beat’ BMW i3, according to dynamics boss

The new Polestar 2 is set to morph into a true sports saloon – with strong emphasis on the sporty side of things
News
29 Sep 2026
Cupra Raval vs Renault 5: classy electric superminis go head-to-head
Cupra Raval vs Renault 5

Cupra Raval vs Renault 5: classy electric superminis go head-to-head

The sporty Cupra Raval is the first of the VW Group’s electric superminis on sale, but can it get the better of the retro-themed Renault 5
Car group tests
29 Sep 2026
New BMW i3 gets a huge £10k price cut with arrival of 40 xDrive model
BMW i3 50 xDrive - front 3/4

New BMW i3 gets a huge £10k price cut with arrival of 40 xDrive model

More details emerge of new i3 line-up, with 40 xDrive model providing a more affordable alternative to 50 xDrive launch edition
News
30 Sep 2026

Find a car with the experts