PASADENA, Calif., Nov. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- COAST Autonomous, a self-driving vehicle technology company, announced today that motorsport legend and Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler Formula E team principal, Allan McNish, has joined its Advisory Board.
Five years ago, McNish, won the FIA World Endurance Championship in Shanghai, China, which turned out to be the last time he drove a racing car. By joining COAST Autonomous, McNish may never drive anything again…at least, at low-speed!
COAST Autonomous focuses on providing self-driving mobility solutions for low-speed environments such as campuses, airports, resorts, theme parks and city centers. COAST's "secret sauce" is software that is pedestrian friendly combined with a low-cost sensor fusion that does not compromise on performance or safety. As it prepares to deploy its first fleets in 2019, COAST plans to tap into McNish's many years of experience of performing at a top level of motorsports and working with OEMs along with his team building and organization skills and his ready access to auto industry suppliers and senior executives across the corporate landscape.
"It is a great honor and a privilege to welcome someone of Allan's caliber and experience to the COAST team," said Adrian Sussmann, COAST's President and Board Member. "Allan's motorsports pedigree, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times, the FIA World Endurance Championship, three American Le Mans Series titles and most recently the FIA Formula E Championship as Team Principal, speaks for itself. Success breeds success and Allan knows better than anyone what it takes to win. We are looking forward to his insight and guidance as we build a team to compete for victory at low speed."
"Adrian and I have discussed many opportunities over the years, mostly to do with driving racing cars at high speeds and in great danger! Now that I have retired from being a racing driver, the idea of not driving, at low speeds, very safely, is quite appealing!!" said McNish. "As with all racing drivers, I enjoy cars and performance. However, I am in total agreement with COAST's thesis, regarding the benefits of low-speed AVs in private sites, city centers and controlled environments. In my world travels, I get to see the problems with traffic and pollution and I do believe that a combination of electrification and enlarged pedestrian city centers with low speed on-demand AVs for mobility, is a solution that can significantly improve urban environments. In the meantime, I am looking forward to testing a COAST golf cart and P-1 Shuttle. Even if their vehicles go slow, I am excited to help COAST's business accelerate!"
McNish joins an all-star line-up on COAST's Advisory Board with 3-time Indianapolis 500 champion Dario Franchitti, Stanford Professor Dr. Marco Pavone and the former Mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida, Rick Baker.
About COAST Autonomous:
COAST Autonomous is a software and technology company focused on delivering AV solutions for low-speed environments. COAST's mission is to build community by connecting people with mobility solutions that put pedestrians first. At the center of one of the fastest and most profound disruptions to impact the transportation and logistics industries, COAST has developed a complete suite of Autonomous Vehicle (AV) software that includes mapping & localization, robotics & artificial intelligence (AI), fleet management and supervision systems. Partnering with proven manufacturers, COAST can provide a variety of vehicles equipped with its best-in-class software to offer Transportation-as-a-Service (TaaS) solutions to cities, theme parks, campuses, airports and other low-speed environments. Based in Pasadena, California, COAST's team is recognized for its experience and expertise in all aspects of implementing and operating AV fleets while prioritizing safety and the user experience. To learn how COAST Autonomous can help you power autonomous transportation in your environment, please visit http://www.CoastAutonomous.com.
About Allan McNish:
A dedicated family man, when he's not traveling the globe fulfilling his motorsport and ambassador commitments you'll find Allan at home in Monaco, with wife Kelly, to whom he's been married for over ten years, son Finlay and free-spirited daughter Charlotte. With a highly-successful career spanning karting to Formula One, including three victories at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans and winning the FIA World Endurance Championship, Allan is one of the most respected and liked personalities in the dynamic and competitive world of motorsport. Rarely seen without a smile on his face, Allan has always been one of motorsport's most naturally engaging and entertaining characters, making him a favorite of media and fans alike. Off-track, this has led to media roles with BBC F1, BBC Radio 5 Live, Sky Sports F1 and SPEED TV, where he has shared his sporting insight with millions of viewers and listeners. In addition to his on-track success, Allan helps companies engage their respective target audiences through marketing and communications campaigns. One of motorsport's most interesting drivers, Allan is adept at sharing stories from his fascinating life with stakeholders from all walks of life, and has considerable experience hosting corporate events, along with motivational speaking and team-building activities. http://www.allanmcnish.com
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SOURCE Coast Autonomous
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