Audi Plans Limited-Production Autonomous Small Car

Volkswagen AG’s Audi unit aims to launch a self-driving electric city car early next decade.

During its annual meeting this week in Neckarsulm, Germany, Audi said its new Autonomous Intelligent Driving GmbH subsidiary is working on control systems for driverless city vehicles. The technology will be launched in a “small series of cars,” according to the company.

Launched in March, the Munich-based subsidiary is taking the lead on advanced mobility and autonomous vehicle systems for all VW brands. Earlier this week Audi was awarded a license to test autonomous cars on public roads in New York state.

The self-driving small car could be introduced as early as 2021, Autocar says. The British enthusiast magazine speculates the vehicle will be about the size of the VW Up city car and could be called the E-Tron Audi A0.

Earlier this year Audi said it was teaming with Nvidia Corp. to develop artificial intelligence technologies for autonomous cars. The partners demonstrated a specially equipped version of the carmaker’s Q7 crossover/SUV with automated features at CES in Las Vegas in January.