The Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle (SAMS) project has announced Oxa as its new autonomy provider. Oxa’s driverless Ford E-Transit bus will be used when the project kicks off in the first quarter of 2025.
The initiative aims to illustrate how autonomous passenger shuttles can better connect people to key destinations within the city, and is a crucial part of Sunderland’s ongoing smart city journey, using cutting-edge technology to create greener solutions.
Councilor Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council, said, “This initiative is not just about testing new technology; it’s about improving the quality of life for our residents by offering efficient, sustainable transport options. Oxa’s expertise in autonomous vehicle technology is integral to our shared vision of creating a forward-thinking, sustainable transport system for the people of Sunderland.”
Oxa is experienced in providing autonomous vehicle solutions across a range of sectors, including shared passenger transportation and industrial logistics.
Gavin Jackson, CEO at Oxa, said, “We’re proud to be part of the movement to radically modernize public transport in the UK. We’re taking an innovative approach to bringing autonomy to customers and communities today and are excited to be getting started in Sunderland.”
The SAMS project is led by Sunderland City Council and a consortium of six other public and private partners, and is backed by the Centre for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) and Innovate UK, supported by Zenzic.