Stellantis Unveils In-House Automated Driving Tech, Partners With Mistral AI To Boost Innovation

The autonomous mobility industry has garnered tremendous amounts of attention over the last few years, resulting in numerous startups entering the sector with their advanced technologies.

At the same time, established automakers have found themselves investing big to keep up with evolving requirements, as well as innovating in the field.

One such automaker is Stellantis, which recently unveiled its first in-house-developed automated driving system—STLA AutoDrive 1.0—an intelligent system that delivers Hands-Free and Eyes-Off (SAE Level 3) functionality.

To recap, Stellantis owns and controls some of the biggest automobile brands in the world, including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Dodge, Citroën, FIAT, Ferrari, Jeep, Maserati, Opel, Ram, Vauxhall, and others.

STLA Autodrive forms an important part of Stellantis’ technology strategy, adding to other initiatives—STLA Brain and STLA Smart Cockpit—which are aimed at advancing vehicle intelligence, automation, and user experience.

The STLA Autodrive system enables customers to enjoy automated driving at speeds up to 60 km/h (37 mph), allowing them to temporarily engage in non-driving tasks such as watching a movie, catching up on emails, reading a book or simply looking out the window.

This feature is ideal for drivers living in dense urban areas or those stuck in stop-and-go traffic.

“Helping drivers make the best use of their time is a priority,” said Ned Curic, Stellantis Chief Engineering and Technology Officer. “By handling routine driving tasks, STLA AutoDrive will enhance the driving experience, making time behind the wheel more efficient and enjoyable.”

When traffic and environmental conditions align, drivers can activate the feature by pressing a physical button, following which, the system takes control and ensures safe distances are maintained, speeds are accurately calculated, and steering and braking are seamlessly managed.

The system represents the company’s move toward more intelligent, comfortable, and intuitive driving experiences, with a focus on safety, flexibility, and long-term adaptability.

Stellantis’ STLA AutoDrive is designed to be an evolving platform, and the company is currently working to enable Hands-Free and Eyes-Off operation at higher speeds—up to 95 km/h (59 mph)—and enhanced off-road automation for select models.


This move follows Stellantis’ recent announcement saying that it was strengthening its strategic partnership with Mistral AI, which aims at leveraging the latest AI (artificial intelligence) technology to enhance customer experience, vehicle development, and manufacturing.

As such, the two companies have been working together for over a year on AI-driven projects across vehicle engineering, fleet data analysis, internal car sales, data analysis, and manufacturing.

One of their latest projects involves an advanced GenAI-powered (generative artificial intelligence) in-car assistant, designed to provide real-time, natural, conversational support for drivers.

It will enable customers to ask questions about vehicle features, troubleshooting, or warning indicators and receive immediate guidance.

Beyond the in-car assistant, Stellantis and Mistral AI are working on several AI-driven initiatives. This includes:
 

• Bill of Materials (BOM) Data Intelligence, which will help streamline the analysis of complex component databases.

• Vehicles Feedback Data Analysis, which automates the processing of data from development fleets and surveys, to identify trends and corrective actions.

• The “Club Stellantis” Virtual Assistant, which aims to assist Stellantis employees in France purchase company vehicles.

• AI-Driven Anomaly Detection, which will use edge computing models to detect manufacturing errors in real-time, enabling the speedy execution of corrective actions. 

“There are many players in the AI space, and we’re particularly happy to partner with Mistral AI for its strong ability to adapt quickly and drive meaningful results in a highly collaborative way,” said Ned Curic. “Together, we are exploring AI’s potential across several domains to enhance our product development, customer experience and deliver real benefits.”

“This partnership is an important step in our commitment to making GenAI more accessible and valuable,” said Arthur Mensch, Mistral AI CEO and Co-Founder. “Stellantis’ bold approach to technology, and its ability to integrate advanced AI into real-world driving experiences make it an ideal partner to showcase how Mistral AI’s versatile solutions can reinvent mobility and empower engineers in their work.”

Do you think this move will help Stellantis command a strong position in the autonomous vehicle market?

Let us know in the comments below!