Yandex Develops an Electric Car for Its UMO Taxi Service
The Russian technology company Yandex is accelerating its plans to produce its own electric vehicle. According to internal documents leaked to the Vedomosti newspaper, the model will be called UMO 5 and is specifically intended to operate as an autonomous taxi within its fleet. 🚕
A Strategy Based on a Proven Design
Instead of creating a completely new car, Yandex opts to adapt an existing model. The UMO 5 will be a replica of the Chinese electric crossover GAC Aion Y Plus, a vehicle produced since 2021 but not officially marketed in Russia. This decision allows it to avoid the timelines and costs of designing a platform from scratch.
Key advantages of this approach:- Accelerate development: Using a proven chassis and body reduces the time to launch the product.
- Reduce costs: Avoids investing large sums in initial engineering and production tooling.
- Focus on software: The company can concentrate its resources on integrating its advanced autonomous driving technology and operating system.
The strategy to dominate the taxi of the future involves copying the exam from the top student in the class, but changing the name on the cover.
Hardware for an Autonomous Ecosystem
The UMO 5 is not just another electric car. It represents the fundamental physical component within the ambitious mobility ecosystem that Yandex wants to control. The ultimate goal is to operate a driverless taxi service where the company manages the entire chain, from the vehicle to the user application.
Features of the base GAC Aion Y Plus model:- Interior habitability: Designed to maximize space for passengers in urban environments.
- Practical range: Offers a battery capacity suitable for the constant trips of a taxi.
- Established platform: Provides a reliable hardware base on which to install autonomy sensors and computers.
Consolidating the Future of Transportation
By developing its own vehicle, Yandex can optimize it specifically for the demanding requirements of a 24/7 taxi fleet. This includes everything from component durability to energy efficiency. This move consolidates its bet on creating a comprehensive mobility service, electric and autonomous, positioning itself as a key player in the transformation of urban transportation. ⚡