CAVs

The 2024 ABI Conference, organised by the Association of British Insurers, was held on 27 February. This annual event is a chance for insurers to network and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the insurance industry.

Darwin was at the conference to introduce our new autonomous shuttle, the second vehicle to be added to the existing Darwin Autonomous Shuttle service, in collaboration with Aviva, the European Space Agency, the UK Space Agency and the University of Salford. We’re sharing data from the service with Aviva to help them develop insurance products for self-driving vehicles.

In late 2021, insurer Aviva and autonomous vehicle operator Darwin Innovation Group partnered to launch the Darwin Autonomous Shuttle, the longest-running self-driving passenger service in the UK. Now, after two years of operation, Aviva and Darwin have teamed up with the University of Salford to add a second self-driving shuttle to the service.

The Darwin Autonomous Shuttle, a self-driving passenger service, has been carrying people around Harwell Science and Innovation Campus for over two years now. Run by Darwin Innovation Group with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA) and UK Space Agency, the shuttle service helps to demonstrate the real-world viability of autonomous public transportation.

The Darwin Autonomous Shuttle at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus was originally developed by Gaussin Macnica Mobility (Gama), formerly Navya. We were delighted to welcome the Gama team to Harwell to see the shuttle in action.

PIX Moving is a developer and manufacturer of self-driving vehicles, established in China in 2014. By creating modular, customisable autonomous vehicles, PIX Moving aims to fulfil the needs of passengers beyond transportation, enabling moving cafés, cinemas or libraries.

On 8 December 2023, PIX Moving visited Darwin Innovation Group at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus.