Are Ford’s ‘Chariot’ vans the answer to Seattle’s traffic woes?

Leaders from Ford met with Seattle transportation officials Wednesday to discuss how the city can manage the traffic demands of a booming region while integrating driverless car technology.

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As the city prepares for an autonomous future, Ford-owned company Chariot is making plans to roll out their on-demand shuttle bus services.

The company says their shuttles will be able to reach so-called “transit deserts” in the region and help alleviate gridlock on the roads.

“Instead of carrying, on average, the 1.2 people that end up being in a single-occupancy vehicle in most urban settings, you can carry 12-18 in a Chariot van,” Vice President of City Solutions for Ford Smart Mobility John Kwant said.

Kwant says the company will have Level 4 autonomous vehicles — that means no steering wheel — on the market in 2021. There is no date yet for when Chariot will begin operating in Seattle

Chariot has operated in San Francisco since 2014.

While Seattle leaders explore the infrastructure improvements needed to integrate autonomous vehicles, Kwant says large-scale adoption will take time.

“This is going to be something that evolves over time,” he said. “You’re not just going to turn a key in one week and say, OK, we’re just going to insert these vehicles in. It’s going to take time for that.”

Ford hopes that on-demand shuttle services along with the eventual large-scale use of autonomous vehicles will be part of the answer to the biggest question facing local transportation leaders.

“As more people move into the cities … how are you going to manage that increased growth for not only the movement of people but all the stuff that comes with them?”