By Shitendra Bhattacharya

It’s not just a test in Silicon Valley anymore; driverless cars are real. Cars that drive themselves are going from science fiction to the streets, with robotaxis in San Francisco and shuttles in Shenzhen. But what would it take for one to safely roll through the busy streets of Gurugram or Bengaluru ? The answer is a lot, but India is slowly but surely getting ready for it.

Companies like Tata Motors, Mahindra, and Ashok Leyland are putting smart driver-assist features in their cars and trucks. At the same time, start-ups like Minus Zero, Swaayatt Robots, Flux Auto, and Flo Mobility are trying to solve the bigger problem of full autonomy in India’s unpredictable traffic.

The timing is helpful. AI chips are smaller and faster. 5G networks are being set up.

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