Champion driver joins Coasts advisory board, will tutor self-driving artificial intelligence systems to improve safety and vehicle performance.

Coast Autonomous, a self-driving vehicle technology company, announced today that it has recruited one of the worlds greatest drivers as an advanced driving coach for its autonomous vehicle system.

Coast Autonomous is tapping into the driving skill and experience of three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti to provide the best possible input to Coasts robotics and artificial intelligence algorithms. The resulting output will be a more intelligent system with better safety and a smoother ride.

"I watch the slightest movement of a drivers head or the twitch of a front wheel, so I know when and how a vehicle is going to change direction before it actually does. I am planning to teach these skills to the Coast engineers."
-Dario Franchitti

"Apart from driving ability, to be a winning race car driver involves many attributes including precision, attention to detail, continuous risk assessment and a constant effort to improve. But above all else, safety comes first. Coast shares this same winning philosophy. Since Coast asked me to join the team, I havent been able to stop thinking about everything I do in a car that had previously been subconscious after years of professional driving," said Franchitti. "I watch the slightest movement of a drivers head or the twitch of a front wheel, so I know when and how a vehicle is going to change direction before it actually does. I am planning to teach these skills to the Coast engineers. Coast is setting the standard for self-driving technology and I am eager to put my knowledge and experience to work with Coasts world-class team. Lets Coast!"

"The Coast Autonomous vehicles are at the cutting edge of self-driving vehicle technology. It is fitting that one of the worlds most skilled drivers add his considerable talents to our effort."
-Coast Managing Director Adrian Sussmann

"Simply sitting in a car with Dario at the wheel is like taking a master class in driving. The way he drives is completely different from how an average person drives," said Adrian Sussmann, Coasts Managing Director. "He is completely aware of everything around him and anticipates every movement and trajectory of surrounding vehicles and pedestrians. The Coast Autonomous vehicles are at the cutting edge of self-driving vehicle technology. It is fitting that one of the worlds most skilled drivers add his considerable talents to the effort. It seems completely obvious to us that if you are developing self-driving software you should understand how someone of Darios caliber drives. It will be a privilege for our engineers to work with him and make sure that Coasts self-driving systems continue to be the very best."

About Coast Autonomous:
Coast Autonomous is a software and technology company focused on delivering AV solutions for low speed environments. 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, Coasts 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 Dario Franchitti:
Dario Franchitti is a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and four-time IndyCar Series champion from Edinburgh, Scotland. Dario raced in the IndyCar Series between 1997 and 2013 and was known for his smooth style, blistering speed and intelligence under pressure. Taking the "checkered flag" 31 times in IndyCar, Dario also enjoyed success in sports cars, winning the prestigious Daytona 24 hour race and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Dario is now enjoying a second career as an announcer on TV. Dario is a co-commentator on the host television commentary team for the new all-electric racing series, ABB FIA Formula E Championship (broadcast around the world on FOX Sports, Channel 5, CCTV-5, Eurosport, Viasat, Canal+ / Sport+, Energy (Spain), TV Asahi, Tring, and Ziggo Sport Totaal). Darios sporting achievements have also been recognized on the Queens Honours List, and he was presented with an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) at Buckingham Palace in November 2014.