By Yoshio Takahashi
TOKYO--Toyota Motor Corp. (7203.TO) said it plans to sell
vehicles that can largely drive themselves on highways around the
middle of the current decade, as part of efforts to reduce
accidents caused by driver error.
Safety is a key research area along with emission-cutting
technology that many leading car makers hope will boost the
competitive edge of their vehicles in coming years, as it becomes
increasingly tough to battle on a price level with rival
manufacturers from emerging markets.
With the announcement of the rough time frame for marketing the
technology, Toyota joins its major global peers in the rush to
develop self-driving technology. Nissan Motor Co. (7201.TO) in
August said it plans to bring fully autonomous vehicles to the
market by 2020.
U.S. internet search engine giant Google Inc. (GOOG), Daimler
AG's (DDAIY) Mercedes-Benz brand and others are also working on
similar drive-by-wire technology.
Toyota's self-driving technology links an advanced cruise
control system that communicates with nearby vehicles wirelessly to
maintain safe distances and a lane monitoring technology that helps
a car's steering system keep it in its lane on a highway.
Moritaka Yoshida, a Toyota managing officer in charge of safety
technology, said that drivers will still need to closely monitor
the driving environment as it is only designed to help driving, not
to support a completely automated vehicle.
But the auto giant will continue to work on technology that can
allow fully autonomous operations in Japan and the U.S. as part of
its research into safety. The company has no plans at present to
mass market its entirely-automated driving technology, Mr. Yoshida
said.
Toyota's basic stance is that drivers should have ultimate
control of a vehicle and the fun-to-drive feeling shouldn't be
compromised, he said, adding that completely automated vehicles
might also end up facing legal and regulatory challenges.
The Japanese car maker plans to test its automated driving
technology on highways in the Tokyo area starting Oct. 15.
Write to Yoshio Takahashi at yoshio.takahashi@wsj.com
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