Stellantis joins 5G car and traffic connectivity test in US

Stellantis — the automotive company that owns brands like Peugeot, Jeep, Maserati, and Ram — has participated in the 5G Automotive Association’s (5GAA) live trial of 5G cellular-connected vehicle communication and multi-access edge computing (MEC) technology.

Alongside the auto firm are 5GAA partners Intel, Verizon, American Tower, CapGemini, Telus, Harman, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, and the Virginia Department of Transportation.

“The 5G Automotive Association lives out of cooperation between its members. In this case, eight members led by Intel and Verizon give a perfect example of how we can use connected mobility to increase safety on our roads. 5GAA is also global and we are happy that use cases demonstrated here in the United States can readily be adapted in any other country supporting 5G and Edge networks,” said 5GAA Chief Technology Officer Maxime Flament.

The test was conducted in Blacksburg, Virginia where the Amsterdam-based multinational company took part in the live trial of the new driver and pedestrian safety concept paving the way for new roaming technology for traffic safety.

According to Stellantis, high-speed wireless communication is a key element in enabling increased levels of vehicle autonomy as well as future connected services and mobility technologies.

During the Virginia test, Stellantis put forward a Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid that has been equipped with fixed, on-site cameras and sensors to collect detailed data that adds to what a vehicle can “see” using its on-board systems.

High-speed 5G cellular connection and multi-access edge technology allows the specially-equipped Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid unit to quickly make decisions to communicate safety risks for pedestrians and approaching vehicles.

“Making roads safer for drivers and pedestrians is the ultimate goal of developing these next-generation technologies. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid is the perfect vehicle for these live tests, equipped with vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies and driver safety alert. With 5GAA, we are working with industry leaders across the globe to help pave the way for autonomous technology to benefit our products and, ultimately, our customers,” said Stellantis Chief Technology Officer Ned Curic.

Stellantis has also been involved in similar initiatives in the past. The company was part of the evaluation of 5G cellular technology and management of large volumes of data, including the sizing and configuration of computing capabilities inside the vehicle, that took place in Turin, Italy.

Photos from Stellantis

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