Most of the current state-of-the-art technologies available on high-end automobiles, will find their way, sooner or later, in much more affordable models. Autonomous driving is no exception.
According to Autocar, the Nissan Micra will sport an advanced Propilot autonomous system in less than 10 years, as one of the autonomous drive department heads, Stewart Callegari, explains.
“Currently, the B-segment is still predominantly a three-pedal [manual gearbox] market and it’s very much price driven. But we expect that to change, and when it does Propilot will become appropriate.”
The first car to benefit from the Propilot system is the new Serena minivan, scheduled to go on sale in Japan at the end of next month. The system will be introduced in several other models, including the Qashqai in Europe in 2017, followed by US and Chinese market launches.
The cars will adopt the system’s first phase of development, as it will only control the car’s steering and brakes on certain types of roads, such as motorways. The second stage is expected in 2018, adding a multi-lane function.
Nissan Sway Concept pictured
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