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Tesla Targets 2016 For (Nearly) Autonomous Driving Technology

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk has upped the ante on autonomous driving this week, singling out the year 2016 for the debut of a self-driving car.  And, rather than partnering with Google as earlier reports had suggested, Tesla's auto-pilot techno


Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk has upped the ante on autonomous driving this week, singling out the year 2016 for the debut of a self-driving car. 

And, rather than partnering with Google as earlier reports had suggested, Tesla's auto-pilot technology is being developed entirely in-house. 

Speaking with South Africa's Financial Times, Musk said the system will allow a driver to surrender "90 percent" of their car's controls over to the computer. 

A fully autonomous car - such as what Nissan has promised to launch by 2020 - will come later after further development, Musk said.

The California-based carmaker is actively recruiting for the project now, with an online job board hosting an ad for an Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Controls Engineer.

There may be little reason to rush, however, with current laws in most countries requiring the driver to be in control of their vehicle at all times.

Whether governments - and insurance companies - will come around to the idea of autonomous driving before 2016, or even 2020, remains to be seen. 

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