Audi to sell 'level 3' automated car www3.nhk.or.jp
German automaker Audi this year plans to sell the world's first automated car that does not require driver control of the steering wheel on expressways.
Audi says it will roll out the model in Germany, the only country which currently allows such technology. It is ranked level 3 on the scale of vehicle automation, with level 5 being the highest.
In Japan, Nissan Motor plans to launch a model this year that can automatically change lanes on expressways.
The technology is classified as level 2, but it is still more advanced than other automation functions in the same category, such as automated braking.
The Japanese government wants level 3 or higher automated vehicles on roads by 2020, when Tokyo will host the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
There is growing debate on issues surrounding self-driving technology, such as responsibility in accidents involving automated vehicles.
Published Date:2018-01-02