Toyota And Lexus Won’t Show ‘Next-Gen’ Autonomous Systems Until 2020
Automakers around the world are battling to one-up each other with a show of technological might through autonomous systems, yet Toyota and its Lexus luxury division won’t step into the arena until 2020 according to reports. Officially the two Ja
Automakers around the world are battling to one-up each other with a show of technological might through autonomous systems, yet Toyota and its Lexus luxury division won’t step into the arena until 2020 according to reports.
Officially the two Japanese brands will begin to introduce some autonomous systems from 2018 but Automotive News reports that Toyota will save its more advanced next generation systems for a prototype expo set to coincide with the the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Toyota’s announcement trails other Japanese companies, with Nissan already equipping some domestic-market vehicles with semi-autonomous cruise control systems that can follow other traffic, maintain lane position, and come to a complete stop on motorways with the system set to expand to include multi-lane and urban functionality soon.
Toyota is believed to have strategically selected the Tokyo Olympics, not just for the global attention it will receive, but because the Odaiba waterfront district of Tokyo, where many Olympic events will be staged, offers a favorable demonstration location with wide, straight streets, simple intersections, and low volumes of traffic unlike many other regions of Tokyo.
Lexus previewed its take on autonomous driving technology as early as 2013 with a network of systems that can maintain a safe following distance, and slow down for and steer through corners, at the time claiming to have the system ready for a 2015 rollout - an introduction that still hasn’t occurred.
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