Tallinn-based mobility giant Bolt is launching a European autonomous-driving programme with NVIDIA, starting with Lucid vehicles in Madrid in 2027.
The programme will use NVIDIA’s Alpamayo software to collect real-world driving data for the development and testing of autonomous vehicles, NVIDIA said. Bolt plans to expand the programme to Germany and France as it rolls out more widely across Europe.
Adapting autonomy for European roads
Alpamayo is designed to help autonomous vehicles interpret surrounding traffic, assess situations and plan their movements, writes Postimees Majandus. The software processes information from a vehicle’s sensors to determine how the vehicle should respond in traffic.
The system combines reasoning-based artificial intelligence with technologies for understanding the driving environment and planning vehicle movements. It operates on NVIDIA’s Hyperion platform, which provides the computing and sensor architecture for autonomous-driving systems.
Bolt and NVIDIA will adapt the software for European roads and integrate it into vehicles from multiple manufacturers. The partnership combines NVIDIA’s driving and safety technologies with Bolt’s fleet-management systems, operational capabilities and local-market expertise.
Data collection in Madrid is planned to begin in 2027, subject to regulatory approval. The first Lucid vehicles will provide the basis for testing and development as Bolt and NVIDIA work to validate autonomous-driving technology in European traffic conditions.
Expanding from Madrid into larger markets
Germany is a priority for the next phase of the programme, while France is also included in Bolt’s planned European expansion. The company has described the initiative as a European Robotaxi programme that links autonomous vehicles to its existing mobility operations.
For Bolt, the project extends the Estonian mobility company’s activities into autonomous transport and creates a framework for introducing the technology across several national markets. Its fleet management and operating systems will be integrated with NVIDIA’s autonomous driving stack as the programme develops.
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