PARIS, FRANCE: Navya, an autonomous mobility systems leader, has announced the signing of a three-party cooperation agreement with Michelin and beti to speed up the development and trials of solutions either with or without tires that are installed on the NAVYA’s self-driving shuttles and deployed in real-life conditions in a rural setting with the presence of a beti operator, a press release noted.

Michelin is a global tire industry and sustainable mobility leader, and beti is the autonomous mobility network operator.

The partnership enables Michelin, Navya et beti to pool their skills through the intermediary of Movin’On, the world’s leading ecosystem for strategic anticipation and co-innovation, with the objective of promoting sustainable mobility, and to face the challenges presented by contact between the vehicle and the road by co-developing connected, airless solutions and data management.

Sophie Desormière, CEO of Navya said the partnership with beti and the Michelin Group would enables them to strengthen their technological and commercial leadership in the best conditions, with opportunities to create new related services that respond to the expectations of both professionals and general users in a way that is constantly improving.

“It is a major advantage for NAVYA to be able to benefit from the means, expertise, infrastructure and global reputation of the Michelin Group, which embodies another step in our pursuit of strategic development toward competitiveness and growth.”

The partnership between two autonomous mobility specialists and a world player in the field of sustainable mobility allows for the building of a solid value chain which is indispensable for the development and the strengthening of the autonomous, shared mobility sector.

In this way NAVYA and beti are continuing their operational and strategic collaboration, building on the success of their previous trials conducted together in the Val de Drôme and Val Thorens.

They are glad to share their skills with the Michelin Group to create a real ecosystem of excellence for autonomous mobility that is both sustainable and inclusive and firmly established in the regions.

This first practical collaboration is the result of a number of exchanges which took place between the Michelin, Navya et beti teams within the framework of their active participation in Movin’On.

Erik Grab, Director of Movin’On said, “By means of this partnership, Movin’On provided the three individual companies with a platform that was conducive to the strategic anticipation of tomorrow’s mobility markets and the carrying out of sustainable mobility experimentations, according to each company’s strategic needs and their fields of excellence. The complementarity of their respective skills shows how co-innovation has become the driving force behind mobility as a factor of progress. This first experiment in the field of autonomous mobility initiated by a number of Movin’On partner companies is promising in terms of impact which we welcome all round.”

Emmanuel Custodero, Scientific Director, Michelin Group said, “The Michelin Group has always been a pioneer in the field of sustainable mobility which makes it well placed to develop solutions relating to autonomous mobility. Shared autonomous transportation has already become an essential pillar of sustainable mobility for the coming years and its history is being written today. We at Michelin are convinced that collaboration is an excellent means of keeping industrial players at the cutting edge of strategic technologies. The partnership with NAVYA and beti, both experts in their fields, is a perfect illustration of this. NAVYA’s technological and industrial lead is already proven through its design, production and deployment of its shuttles – more than 200 have been trialed worldwide – and beti is an active and recognized leading operator in the development of rural mobility. We all share the same vision and imperative to bring about sustainable and inclusive mobility for the benefit of all.”

Benjamin Beaudet, Managing Director of beti said, “Hand-in-hand with NAVYA and Michelin, beti is continuing in its aim to bring safe, efficient autonomous mobility to the people who live in rural regions. By being at the heart of such partnerships which capitalize on our respective synergies, beti will play its part in creating experiences and services that will shape the mobility of people and goods in the years to come.”