Commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland and AI-enabled autonomous solution provider Aidrivers have announced that they have partnered for the development of AI-enabled autonomous vehicles to meet the needs for a sustainable future.

The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a long-term collaboration which will blend their specialist knowledge and experience to push forward together in this swiftly advancing field.

As per the agreement, Aidrivers will provide AI-enabled autonomous solutions and Ashok Leyland will provide vehicle platforms; the partners will work together to explore target markets and opportunities for cooperation.

"This MoU provides the foundations for joint innovation and inspiration," said Rafiq Swash, founder and chief executive officer of Aidrivers.

"There are clear opportunities where the skills, resources, reputation, and technical know-how of both Aidrivers and Ashok Leyland can complement each other, particularly in meeting the needs of industry for a sustainable future. We are excited about the possibilities and look forward to working together to create innovative, ground-breaking autonomous solutions for a range of industrial applications."

The company stated that the agreement foresees the development of autonomous vehicles, industrial mobility equipment, and other autonomous industrial automation solutions that can deliver significant value to fleet operators, logistics providers, and others. As well as specific project opportunities, the MoU encompasses joint marketing and joint market access as appropriate.

N Saravanan, President and Chief Technology Officer of Ashok Leyland, said, "Ashok Leyland has a well-established record as a pioneer in the commercial vehicle sector, having developed many concepts that have become industry benchmarks and norms over the years. For example, we launched India's first electric bus and India's first Euro 6 compliant truck. We are proud of our reputation for innovation. We are delighted to be collaborating with Aidrivers and look forward to working together to create and develop the innovative autonomous solutions that will drive the industry forward in the coming years."