roppongi
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What you guys think? Welcome technology or the end of making cars with enthusiasts in mind?
I wouldn't mind having the option if I'm sitting in some bad bumper to bumper traffic but I'm afraid that this starts us down the road of fully autonomous cars.
I wouldn't mind having the option if I'm sitting in some bad bumper to bumper traffic but I'm afraid that this starts us down the road of fully autonomous cars.
http://asia.nikkei.com/Tech-Science/Tech/Honda-aims-for-highway-capable-model-by-2020
October 21, 2015
Honda aims for highway-capable model by 2020
TOKYO -- Honda Motor plans to offer cars that can drive themselves on highways by around 2020, part of an attempt by Japanese automakers to move ahead of foreign rivals in this new high-tech field.
With Toyota Motor and Nissan Motor having announced their plans, the three largest domestic carmakers now have timelines for self-driving vehicles.
Honda this year started adopting what it calls Sensing technologies, which handle automatic braking, help avoid hitting pedestrians and perform other functions. Building on these, it will enhance the performance of cameras, radar and control systems to realize automated driving.
General Motors of the U.S., Honda's partner in development of fuel cell systems, is working to commercialize highway self-driving technologies in 2017. Honda is considering expanding the scope of cooperation to include automatic driving.
Rival Nissan aims to roll out a vehicle that can drive itself in some highway lanes next year, with local-road self-driving in sight for 2020. Toyota has said it plans to roll out a highway self-drive vehicle in 2020.
Autonomous cars are expected to reduce traffic congestion and accidents, in addition to easing the burden of long-distance driving for the elderly and others.
Suppliers are also speeding up development of related technologies such as mapping features and sensors. The market for self-driving autos may expand to as much as $60 billion by 2030, according to European consulting company Roland Berger.
Western automakers and technology giants like Google are also developing self-driving vehicles. Japanese automakers seek to lead the competition, making their offerings available by 2020, when many foreign visitors will come for the Tokyo Summer Olympics.
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