Car 6

MC for the event Eimear Ní Bhraonáin of KCLR with guest speakers Paul O’Sullivan, Ford Ireland Sales Director and Ronan Flood, MD of Kia Ireland. A panel of motoring experts at an event in Dooley Motors Ford and Kia in Carlow agreed that the recent Government target of having a million electric vehicles on Ireland's roads by 2030 was 'overly ambitious', writes Brian Byrne . Tom Cullen of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry said the target is 'wildly' ambitious. But he also said that Ireland is in a 'leading position' for the development of autonomous driving technologies. Sales Director of Ford Ireland Paul O'Sullivan noted that Ford is investing millions in exploring autonomous and electric vehicle technologies. Ronan Flood, MD of Kia Ireland, said the future of motoring was about giving choices to consumers 'so they have the options to meet their personal driving needs'. David Swaine, Product Sales Specialist from Tokheim Serv...

Ford and Volkswagen are to expand their global cooperation to develop self-driving and electric vehicles, writes Brian Byrne . Both companies are to invest in Ford's subsidiary Argo AI, a company developing an autonomous vehicle platform, to the tune of more than €7bn. Each carmaker will independently integrate the Argo AI system into their vehicles. The system is aimed at providing Level 4 autonomous driving, particularly for ride sharing and delivery services. Ford is to use VW's electric vehicle architecture and Modular Electric Toolkit to build one or more electric vehicles for its European customers. The first model will be available in 2023. The two companies are already working to co-develop LCVs and pickup trucks, scheduled to begin deliveries in 2022.