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Automated Vehicles Coming to Ontario Roads
Posted by: ITS Canada

November 28th, 2016

News Release - November 28, 2016 9:30 A.M.Ministry of Transportation

Automated Vehicles Coming to Ontario Roads

University of Waterloo, Erwin Hymer Group, BlackBerry QNX First to Test New Technology

Ontario is supporting innovation in the transportation sector by launching the first automated vehicle (AV) pilot program in Canada, led by The University of Waterloo, the Erwin Hymer Group and BlackBerry QNX.

Automated vehicles are driverless or self-driving vehicles capable of detecting and navigating the surrounding environment, and have the potential to help improve road safety and fuel efficiency, as well as reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. The pilot brings together a range of expertise from the research, manufacturing and technology sectors to advance innovation and capability in Ontario's AV sector. The participants include:

The WATCar Project at the University of Waterloo's Centre for Automotive Research, which will monitor a Lincoln MKZ for performance and test it on-road at different levels of automation
The Erwin Hymer Group, an international auto manufacturer active in the Kitchener-Waterloo tech and innovation corridor, which will test and monitor a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van at different levels of automation
BlackBerry QNX, a Canadian global software development leader, which will test a 2017 Lincoln with automated features.