UPDATE 1 — Volvo Cars expands automated driving partnership with Nvidia

(Adds quotes from CEOs at event in paragraph 4-6) By Marie Mannes STOCKHOLM, Oct 15 (Reuters) — Volvo Cars is expanding its partnership with Nvidia to develop a new generation of driver-assistance and automated-driving technology, the companies said on Thursday, as carmakers race to bring increasingly advanced hands-free driving features to market. The companies said Volvo would combine its safety systems and engineering expertise with Nvidia's artificial intelligence and computing technologies, including the Hyperion sensor, computer architecture and autonomous-driving software stack. Automakers including Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Ford have been targeting more advanced automated-driving systems, from hands-free highway driving to self-driving in limited conditions. Tesla is pushing for broader approval of its assisted-driving technology in Europe, including urban areas with an EU-wide vote possible in December. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told reporters in Stockholm that partnering with Volvo provided the chipmaker with a "tremendous opportunity" because of the automaker's rigorous safety standards. Huang said features would be rolled out gradually. "As the car earns its trust and as Vol