The world of self-driving cars is definitely an interesting one to say the least. There has been plenty of efforts put into this particular technology in recent times, and CES 2017 saw plenty of autonomous vehicles hit the showfloor as our rides become more sophisticated and smarter over the course of time. NVIDIA has a major role to play in this department, and here is word that Nissan of Japan too, would like to jump aboard the self-driving car game to keep up with the rest of the pack.
The Japanese car manufacturer would like to unleash their existing collection of self-driving cars on the busy streets of London as part of the testing process. It is hoped that as more and more of such driverless vehicles hit the road, there will be a higher degree of tolerance and less trepidation among consumers in the long run. In fact, Nissan does know what they are doing with regard to this particular matter, having worked on a driverless towing system in their home country of Japan already.
From February 2017 onward, Nissan intends to calm any kind of resentment, reservations or fears concerning autonomous vehicles on the road by demonstrating their ability in London. There are few other cities which are as cosmopolitan as London that will be able to deliver a platform or audience such as this. In fact, Nissan is looking forward to the distinction of being the first mass-market brand to introduce semi-autonomous vehicles to the masses over in Europe. This will be achieved via the Qashqai SUV that will boast of the ability to steer in a motorway lane. The Qashqai SUV is set for a debut later this year, and for added peace of mind to the still unbelieving masses, there will be a Nissan Serena minivan that sports of similar capability which will is already available for purchase over in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Nissan knows that not everyone is receptive to having autonomous technology on the roads at the moment. After all, memories are still fresh concerning a death that involved a Tesla and its lane-driving system, where the driver in the Tesla died after slamming into a van. It seemed that the circumstances were totally unexpected, leading to the lane-driving system failing to detect the presence of the van.
As for those living in London, do expect to spot an electric Nissan LEAF car that will feature a special radar, complete with laser and camera systems to help it get around unaided. This special electric LEAF will bring a selected group of passengers around through a fixed route in one solitary London borough. Certainly a whole lot more testing is required, as Nissan claims that the technology within will not see action in commercial vehicles at least for three more years.
The lucky people to be selected by Nissan will include politicians and regulators, and will remain closed to the public. Bummer! It would have been nice to see how far Nissan has come with their version of an autonomous vehicle. Looks like Nissan is clamoring for shoulder space with the likes of Volvo and their 100 self-driving cars in the UK this year, with Jaguar Land Rover also joining in on the fray.
Nissan hopes that they will be able to introduce 10 cars that will come with selected levels of autonomous capacity by the time 2020 rolls around.
