Japan's Carmakers Proceed With Caution on Self-Driving Cars
- Fully autonomous cars to hit roads only after 2025, group says
- Self-driving autos can reduce accidents in aging Japan
The technology in use is virtually identical: cameras, radar, and GPS working together to turn cars into self-driving machines. What separates Japan’s automakers and companies like Google Inc. and Tesla Motors Inc. is when they predict fully autonomous vehicles will be ready.
At this week’s Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan Motor Co. will display a concept car with retractable steering wheel and message-flashing windshield, joining Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. in exhibiting vehicles with autonomous modes for changing lanes and avoiding collisions on highways. But while Tesla deployed its Autopilot system this month and Google aims to have fully self-driving cars on the road by 2020, Japan’s automakers see a wait for such vehicles, with introductions coming only after 2025.