The Japanese government has touted the move as a “world first,” saying it would make Honda the first automaker to mass produce and sell the next level of autonomous vehicles. Other driver assistance systems, such as You’re here (TSLA)Autopilot and General Motors’ (GM) Supercruise, are level 2 systems, which means they can control the speed and direction of the vehicle, but still require the driver to be careful at all times and be ready to intervene. Level 3 systems may require the operator’s attention only in specific situations.
Honda said in a statement on Wednesday that it had received approval from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The company plans to start selling Legends equipped with its system before the end of March 2021.
The auto industry has adopted six levels of automated driving, which determine the level of assistance a vehicle can provide. Currently, there are no cars mass-produced at Level 3, although some automakers have tested vehicles with more sophisticated Level 4 technology, which implies a vehicle that is primarily capable of driving itself. , although it may be limited to a certain area. Level 5 automation, in which autonomous vehicle control could be guaranteed for virtually any situation and the need for a steering wheel is removed, is considered the ultimate goal of self-driving cars.
In the United States, “there are currently no vehicles available for sale that are ‘autonomous’,” according to the US Department of Transportation. “Every vehicle currently on sale in the United States requires the full attention of the driver at all times for safe operation,” the agency says on its website.
Honda’s system, called a “traffic jam driver,” would only take over from driving in certain scenarios, “for example when the vehicle is in a traffic jam on [expressways]The company said in a statement.
But Japan is hoping this is just the beginning, especially as the country seeks an edge in the global self-driving car race.
“Self-driving cars are expected to play an important role in solving various social challenges facing Japan, such as reducing road accidents, securing transportation for the elderly and improving productivity in the transport sector, ”the Japanese ministry said.
Japan hopes to be the world leader in autonomous driving and will continue to promote the use of the technology, he added.
