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
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

New Volvo Multi-adaptive Safety Belt launched with world-first personalisation tech
New Volvo Multi-adaptive Safety Belt - b-pillar

New Volvo Multi-adaptive Safety Belt launched with world-first personalisation tech

Multi-adaptive Safety Belt technology has arrived on the new Volvo EX60 and could be the latest Volvo safety innovation that we see widely adopted
News
6 Mar 2026
Best Volvo leasing deals
Volvo EX90 - main image

Best Volvo leasing deals

The best Volvo car leasing deals available to you right now
Best cars & vans
16 Feb 2026
Autoforma Norrsken is a Volvo P1800 ES estate restomod costing more than a Ferrari, and we approve
Autoforma Norrsken Volvo P1800 ES - front action

Autoforma Norrsken is a Volvo P1800 ES estate restomod costing more than a Ferrari, and we approve

The Dutch restomod firm Autoforma and classic car specialists Volvo Lotte will build just five of these wacky wagons a year, each costing up to £260,0…
News
13 Feb 2026
“One of the biggest over-the-air updates in history” is coming to a Volvo near you
Volvo OTA updates - dashboard

“One of the biggest over-the-air updates in history” is coming to a Volvo near you

There’s good news if you own a Volvo running a Google-based infotainment system
News
22 Jan 2026

Most Popular

Jaecoo 7 recalled: a quarter of all brand’s 2025 UK cars going back to dealers
Jaecoo 7 - front action

Jaecoo 7 recalled: a quarter of all brand’s 2025 UK cars going back to dealers

The Chinese brand has initiated a recall for roughly 7,500 Jaecoo 7 models due to an incorrectly attached wiring harness clip
News
6 Mar 2026
New Dacia Jogger Hybrid 155 review: frugal family car makes tons of sense in town
Dacia Jogger Hybrid 155 - front tracking

New Dacia Jogger Hybrid 155 review: frugal family car makes tons of sense in town

Dacia's MPV goes well with hybrid power, but it can get a bit thirsty on longer trips
Road tests
6 Mar 2026
New Mazda CX-5 2026 review: spacious SUV is a step in the wrong direction
Auto Express news reporter Ellis Hyde standing next to a Mazda CX-5

New Mazda CX-5 2026 review: spacious SUV is a step in the wrong direction

The new CX-5 a fair bit different to the old model, but that's not necessarily a good thing
Road tests
6 Mar 2026

Find a car with the experts