Uber, an American multinational online transportation network company, plans to deploy self-driving cars in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The ride-sharing firm stated that it has teamed up with Volvo, a Swedish multinational automobile manufacturing company.

A spokeswoman for the firm told the BBC: “Starting later this month, Uber will allow customers in downtown Pittsburgh to summon self-driving cars from their phones, crossing an important milestone that no automotive or technology company has yet achieved.

"Trips will be free for the time being, rather than the standard local rate of $1.30 (£0.98) per mile."

“In Pittsburgh, customers will request cars the normal way, via Uber's app, and will be paired with a driverless car at random.

"Trips will be free for the time being, rather than the standard local rate of $1.30 (£0.98) per mile.”

Initially, the autonomous car will have a driver, who will take control of the car in case of any emergencies, Bloomberg reported.

Volvo stated that both the firms plan to use the same base vehicle for the next stage of autonomous car strategies.

“This will involve Uber adding its own self-developed autonomous driving systems to the Volvo base vehicle,” the company added.

Volvo president and chief executive Hakan Samuelsson was quoted by BBC as saying: “This alliance places Volvo at the heart of the current technological revolution in the automotive industry.”

Engineers from both companies would collaborate on the project, Volvo added.