Hyperdrive
Autonomous Driving Remains a Distant Reality in Japan
- Sole level-4 location operates a golf cart on short course
- Government aiming for dozens of self-driving locations by 2025
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Japan is pushing for 50 locations with driverless services in place within three years, but fully autonomous vehicles remain nearly nonexistent in the country.
So far, Fukui prefecture on the main island of Honshu is the only place with vehicles featuring level-4 capabilities — defined when they can handle all driving tasks — but only under specific conditions with the option for humans to take over. In the town of Eiheiji, the seven-seater golf carts are only allowed to navigate a 2 kilometer (1.2 mile) course. Maximum speed: 12 kilometers per hour.