Urbanization is not a problem isolated to Boston, hundreds of cities and states all across North America are actively pursuing 'smart mobility' technology solutions to combat traffic pollution, emissions being dispersed from the vehicles and overhaul its public transportation systems.
US technology firm Aptiv has extended its engineering footprint by opening its facilities in the Seaport district of Boston. The latest facility in Boston joins its others in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and California.
A spokesman for the company confirmed that it selected the Seaport District of Boston as the location of its new technical center because of the city's technically proficient workforce, the progressive mindset towards technology and supporting growth by local government and the city is also home to a number of world-class universities.
The technology being developed and deployed by Aptiv has the potential to transform Boston's traffic congestion issues, whilst it can also help increase the accessibility to public transit. US self-driving start-up firm nuTonomy was recently acquired by Aptiv and has already commenced trials of its automated driving program in Seaport. It has been described as the idea location for automated testing due to its challenging surroundings and diverse weather conditions.
Senior VP and CTO of Aptiv, Glen De Vos said that the primary objective of the company is to resolve Boston's mobility issues, and also reiterated its commitment to 'Go Boston 2030' which is an initiative designed to make Boston a world-class 'smart city'. He said, "Aptiv intends to apply its mobility solutions to assist the city of Boston with all of its smart city activities, specifically, the 'Go Boston 2030' initiative that envisions a more efficient transportation network by leveraging automated mobility."
Boston Mayor, Martin Walsh expressed his delight at the announcement of the new tech facility in Seaport, and said the aim is to create an open-ecosystem to facilitate and advance technological change in Boston. Walsh said, "A year ago, I issued an executive order that welcomed researchers and companies to Boston, inviting them to explore how autonomous vehicle technology can help further our transportation goals of safety, access, and reliability, as outlined in Boston's long-term plans Imagine Boston 2030 and 'Go Boston 2030'.We are pleased that Aptiv will locate their new mobility innovation center in Boston, tapping into the wealth of talent here and strengthening Boston's role as a leader in innovation."
Kevin Clark, President and CEO of Aptiv said that Boston was a no-brainer for the erection of its new facility because of its progressive approach towards autonomous driving solutions. Clark said, "Boston has become a leading global city for the development of autonomous driving solutions, making it the ideal location for our new technology center. "We look forward to working closely with Mayor Walsh and Boston's world-class research centers and talent base to move mobility forward in the city and across the globe."