Intel subsidiary Mobileye and German mobility firm SIXT plan to offer self-driving ride-hailing services in Munich from 2022. The two companies aim to roll out further autonomous taxi services across Germany and in other European cities later in the decade.

Mobileye will own the robotaxi fleet used in the Munich service, while SIXT will provide, maintain and operate the fleet. The vehicles will include the MoovitAV service and SIXT branding once the service launches in Munich, to make it easy for customers to distinguish between traditional ride-hailing and the autonomous fleet vehicles.

Riders will be able to access the service via the Moovit app as well as the SIXT app. The autonomous robotaxi offering will be included in SIXT’s mobility platform ONE, which combines ride hailing, car rental, car sharing and car subscriptions.

At the IAA Mobility Show in Munich, Mobileye unveiled the vehicles – branded with MoovitAV and SIXT – that will be produced in volume and used for the robotaxi service in Germany. It is the first time that Mobileye has publicly displayed its self-driving system, known as Mobileye Drive, in a vehicle that will be used for commercial, driverless ride-hailing services.

Germany has recently enacted an autonomous vehicle law that permits driverless vehicles on German roads. This has allowed Mobileye robotaxis to begin early-rider testing on Munich streets in 2022. The fleet will then move from test to commercial operations on regulatory approval.

Speaking to a press conference at the IAA Mobility Show, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger said: “Germany has shown global leadership toward a future of autonomous mobility by expediting crucial AV legislation. Our ability to begin robotaxi operations in Munich next year would not be possible without this new law.”

According to Intel, the collaboration with SIXT is the first known commercial robotaxi service between a tech supplier and a mobility services provider.

“With strong logistics and operational partners like SIXT, Mobileye can bring the promise of full autonomy to life in cities around the world,” said Mobileye CEO Prof. Amnon Shashua. “We’re delighted that Germany is a first mover.”

Alexander Sixt, Co-CEO of Sixt SE, said: “This strategic collaboration is the next step in expanding our integrated mobility platform ONE and underlines our company’s evolution towards becoming the industry’s leading provider of innovative and digital premium mobility. We are delighted to leverage the remarkable technology leadership of Mobileye to bring driverless mobility to customers in Germany and beyond.”