According to *Automotive News* in the U.S., on November 4th, it was reported that global car and tech companies are increasingly focusing on the development of driverless vehicles, with many setting clear timelines for when their self-driving models will hit the roads. While autonomous technology has become a major trend in the automotive industry, Toyota has taken a more measured approach. The company is pursuing a conservative, safety-first strategy for its unmanned vehicle technology, with the ultimate goal of eliminating traffic accidents and achieving zero casualties.
Gill Pratt, president of the Toyota Research Institute, recently spoke at a Toyota Technology Center seminar, stating that a Level 5 fully autonomous car—without a steering wheel or manual controls—would require significant advancements in artificial intelligence. However, there is still no clear roadmap for such a system. “Now is just the beginning of a long journey,†Pratt said.
German luxury automakers are also pushing to integrate advanced autonomous features into their vehicles, aiming to keep up with pioneers like Tesla. Audi, for instance, introduced the A8 as the first production car with Level 3 autonomy, allowing drivers to take their hands off the wheel during certain conditions. Yet, the driver must be ready to take control at any moment.
Toyota remains committed to a cautious, safety-driven path. The company has already implemented an accident avoidance system, and executives mentioned at a recent event that they plan to introduce more advanced features by 2020, including self-driving capabilities on highways. In that year, Toyota aims to roll out Level 2 features, enabling cars to handle merging, overtaking, and lane changes at high speeds. The next step would be developing Level 4 autonomous vehicles for public roads.
However, due to concerns about whether a driver can quickly regain control in an emergency, many automakers, including Toyota, have not yet focused on Level 3 automation. According to the SAE, Level 3 is defined as "conditional automation."
“Our goal is to create a car that will never have an accident,†Pratt emphasized last year. Since being appointed as the head of the institute, the project has been allocated an initial budget of $1 billion. This investment reflects Toyota’s long-term vision for a future where autonomous vehicles operate safely and reliably on all types of roads.
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