Japanese automakers have begun playing catchup with their U.S. and Chinese competitors, who have already developed and are offering semi-autonomous driving capabilities on mainstream models.
According to a report from Nikkei Asia, Mazda, Toyota, and Subaru will begin incorporating Level 2 self-driving technology into a wide variety of vehicles.
Categorized into five primary levels, autonomous technology requires no human intervention from the fifth level and drives the vehicle itself, while the second level permits hands-free driving on highways yet demands that the driver is in charge at all times.
Although not all are thrilled about self-driving cars, creations from Alphabet’s Waymo already boast Level 4 technology and are currently under research to implement Level 5 as well. So far, Level 4 driving capabilities are restricted in Japan, leaving Levels 2 and 3 the major focus for 2022 models, with the Yano Research Institute in Tokyo claiming that by 2030, 62 percent of self-driving vehicles in Japan would have Level 2-based technology installed.
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By 2022, Toyota will equip its flagship Crown models with Level 2 self-driving tech. At the moment, this technology is only available in Lexus’ high-end sedans and the fuel-cell Toyota Mirai. Plans are also in the works to add such tech to less prestigious models like the Corolla.
No later than 2022, Mazda will also follow suit in offering Level 2 or 3 autonomous features in their SUVs and medium-sized sedans. Similarly, Subaru has announced that all of its cars sold globally would have Level 2 hands-free driving technology at speeds up to 50 km/h (31 mph).
Meanwhile, while Level 4 tech will need some changes in driving laws back in Japan, regulations are likely to be relaxed before long to open up opportunities for Japanese automakers to toy with high levels of autonomous technologies.
