admin Honda may be ready to make its self-driving technology in the next year soon. Honda prepares to launch a Level 3 self-driving system with the Legend sedan next year in Japan, according to a report from Nikkei Asian Review on Friday.
The partial self-driving technology will be integrated into the flagship Legend which is likely to retail for around JPY10m (US$91,000), which would make it 40% more costly than the standard model. The technology will evidently allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel and even look away from the road when in use.
However, Level 3 systems, ranked on the SAE scale of autonomy, have to hand controls back to drivers whenever there’s a problem — a reason so many companies have skipped this level and moved straight to Level 4.
Honda did not instantly respond to a request for comment on the report, but Roadshow also reached out to Honda’s luxury division, Acura. A representative didn’t directly comment on the self-driving technology reported, but noted the timing is in line with Honda’s goal to produce autonomous technology in 2020.
The report states the Legend with the L3 system will sell for around $91,000 at current exchange rates.
Japan has dynamically followed autonomous technology and plans to commercialize L3 systems 2020 giving more credit to the report. Though Alphabet’s Waymo division prepares to expand self-driving rides without human backup drivers, automakers like GM unsuccessful to commercialize its own technology as once earlier planned. However, GM offers its Super Cruise system that lets drivers take their hands off the wheel while driving on mapped US Interstates.
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