US-based manufacturer May Mobility will retrofit and expand its fleet of self-driving shuttles in partnership with global mobility technology company Magna to prepare for entry into the US market.

Under the partnership, Magna will retrofit low-speed self-driving micro transit electric vehicles from the chassis up.

May Mobility’s initial fleet of vehicles will debut on 26 June and commercial deployment is set to take place in Detroit, Michigan, US.

Magna chief technology officer Swamy Kotagiri said: “Magna is pleased to work with a company like May Mobility to help support new mobility in city centres.

“The new partnership will see the creation of several street-ready self-driving electric shuttles designed by May Mobility and assembled by Magna.”

“This project demonstrates our complete vehicle and technical expertise, which supports both existing automakers and new companies entering the automotive space.”

Magna will work on the vehicles at its custom build centre located in Troy, Michigan, US, while May Mobility engineers will collaborate on the development from its headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

May Mobility founder and CTO Steve Vozar said: “Magna shares our high technical standards and excitement about servicing the growing demand for self-driving vehicles to meet today’s transportation needs, while also laying the path for the future.

“This deal demonstrates our commitment to scale and accelerate operations with a partner who understands quality and reliability in the build process, and who can match the exacting process that makes us a trusted community partner.”

The new partnership will see the creation of several street-ready self-driving electric shuttles designed by May Mobility and assembled by Magna.

Going forward, May Mobility will continue to retrofit the vehicles with its technology stack to develop safer self-driving vehicles for complex urban and residential environments.