Toyota unwraps self-driving cars, pledges to sell them by 2020

PanARMENIAN.Net - Toyota unveiled its vision for self-driving cars in a challenge to other automakers as well as industry newcomer Google Inc., promising to start selling such vehicles in Japan by 2020, the Associated Press reports.

Toyota Motor Corp. demonstrated on a regular Tokyo freeway Tuesday, October 6, what it called the "mobility teammate concept," meaning the driver and the artificial intelligence in a sensor-packed car work together as a team.

In the demonstration, a Lexus drove itself within the 60 kpm (37 mph) speed limit for about 10 minutes, changing lanes, braking and steering. The human at the wheel did nothing except turn on a button to kick in the technology.

Toyota's plans are part of a larger Japanese government initiative to pioneer automated driving in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

It also marks a shift for Toyota, which has been working on such technology since the 1990s but with great caution, warning that the idea of a driverless car was unrealistic, even dangerous.

Toyota demonstrated another futuristic automated technology called Intelligent Transportation System, which it has been testing on roads in the Toyota city area and Tokyo.

The system will be offered as an option in three models going on sale in Japan later this year, including the Crown luxury model.