Volvo and Autoliv’s autonomous driving JV has started operations.

Announced at the start of the year, the business marks the first time a premium car maker has joined forces with a tier-one supplier to develop advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD) technologies. The first ADAS products are expected to be available for sale by 2019, with AD technologies following shortly thereafter.

Owned 50/50 by the two firms, the joint venture is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, and with additional operations in Munich, Germany, and Detroit, USA.

Dennis Nobelius, CEO of Zenuity, said: “The initial interest from automakers in Zenuity is very encouraging and we look forward to being a leader in the development of the next generation of safer and more automated cars.”