Companies to launch driverless cars by 2020
Nov 13, 2014, Mojo Motors, Written by Tristan Cathers & Max Katsarelas
See the original blog on Mojo
We already showed you when you will be able to buy a driverless car using predictions from research companies and futurists. Since that article was published in July 2014, automakers have been announcing when they anticipate to release their driverless vehicles. This was mostly done to ride the viral wave caused by Google’s sensational driverless car video. So, which company is going to be first to deliver an autonomous model to showrooms?
We’ve grouped companies into four categories:
- Expected to launch a driverless car by 2020
- Expected to launch a driverless car after 2020
- Developing a driverless car, but no official launch date
- No expected launch of a driverless car
Companies in the first category have announced they will have a driverless car by 2020. To be considered “driverless,” the car must drive itself with no assistance from a person. As it stands, nearly all automakers have some sort of driverless technology in their vehicles, like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. These features aid a driver, it doesn’t make a car totally autonomous.
Our infographic also didn’t account for the fact that it is probably illegal to operate a driverless car in your state. Even Elon Musk has said the technology for driverless cars will be here by 2020, but legislation around driverless cars probably won’t be passed until 2022 or 2023. So if you can’t drive, hopefully you live in one of these states or have decent mass transit.
Companies pioneering driverless cars and technology
- Cadillac
- Tesla
- Volvo
- Audi
- Mercedes-Benz
- Nissan
Companies with driverless cars after 2020
- Ford Motor Company
- BMW
- Land Rover / Jaguar
- General Motors
Cadillac
There isn’t single car brand with a comeback quite as impressive as Cadillac. The kind of person who buys BMW or Mercedes now almost has to consider a Cadillac. GM’s premium brand has capitalized by integrating features like the Cue infotainment system and soon, the “Super Cruise” technology.
Super Cruise can operate the car while driving on the highway and in stop-and-go traffic. Cadillac has said Super Cruise goes beyond the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive. This is quite a claim considering Intelligent Drive completed a 70 kilometer autonomous drive across the German countryside. If Cadillac is first to market with a driverless car, it could reposition the brand as the most advanced, but also lead to higher scrutiny from shoppers and the media.
Additional Reading: GM will introduce hands-free, foot free driving in 2017
Tesla
The comparisons between Elon Musk and Tony Stark aren’t unwarranted. One guy builds space ships and the other builds super human suits. Nonetheless, the US auto industry is not an easy market to break into, yet the dominance of the Model S in the EV market has proved Tesla is a force to be reckoned with, even if it means reckoning with the almighty car dealer.
The company plans to sell an autonomous car in the next five or six years and is 90% there to a completely driverless vehicle. There’s no doubt that if Tesla can be the first to sell a successful autonomous car in the US that it would help cement them as a legitimate contender in the automotive arena.
Additional Reading: Tesla CEO sees fully autonomous cars ready in five years
Google has been researching autonomous driving tech since 2011, but earlier this year they released a purpose-built autonomous vehicle. Regardless of its bizarre looks, the “Google car” was the first autonomous car without a steering wheel that most people have actually seen.
Google needs to be a pioneer in the autonomous market as they seek credibility in the automotive category. Then again, if Google will only sell driverless vehicles without steering wheels, are they still operating in the automotive category?
Additional Reading: Google’s driverless car designed to exceed speed limit
Volvo
Experts agree cars are going to be much safer when people aren’t actually driving them. An autonomous car never gets drunk, tired or distracted behind the wheel. That is the reason Volvo, a brand that has always emphasized safety in their vehicles, is so interested in building a driverless car.
Volvo hopes to eliminate deaths in their new vehicles by 2020 with autonomous technology. It is a bold promise so hopefully they figure out how to get those autonomous brakes fixed first.
Additional Reading: Volvo’s self-parking driverless car to hit streets in 2017
Audi
Audi has raced an autonomous TT up Pike’s Peak and then one-upped themselves by racing a driverless RS7 around a track at 140MPH. While Volkswagen Group hasn’t announced a driverless car for Volkswagen, it is possible the same technology in a driverless Audi will be used in the economy brand.
Audi has offered driverless technology like adaptive cruise control in their cars since 2012, so it’s likely they will have a completely autonomous car by 2020.
Additional Reading: This Audi can drive itself FAST!
Mercedes-Benz
The closest thing to a driverless car you can buy now is the 2015 S500 equipped with Intelligent Drive. It has a multitude of sensors and cameras that track nearly everything around the car including traffic lights. It hasn’t sped around a racetrack at 140MPH like Audi, but an autonomous S500 did complete a long-distance drive in the German countryside.
Mercedes wants to be the first automaker to launch a driverless car and they are certainly ahead of the competition. For one thing, they’ve been developing the technology for over twenty years. Talk about a big head start.
Additional Reading: Mercedes is Changing Semi Trucks
Nissan Motor Company
It might be fair to say that Nissan was the first manufacturer to set their sights on 2020 after their CEO Carlos Ghosn exclaimed they would have a fleet of affordable driverless cars by 2020. With only 5 years to go, it’s a tight deadline, but CEO Carlos Ghosn is adamant they can do it. He expects to have the technology available across their whole lineup soon after it’s introduced.
Nissan’s luxury brand is already getting the autonomous treatment with their Q50. As you can see by this video, presumably shot by Evel Knievel, the Q50 has no problem finding its own way down the highway as the driver sits in the back seat. We’re sure it won’t be long before the Q50 and their other cars can do this in more complicated driving situations. It’s also worth noting that the Q50 made our list of best used sports cars for under $40,000.
Additional Reading: Nissan Announces Plans to Release Driverless Cars by 2020
Ford / Lincoln
In December 2013, Ford unveiled their automated Fusion hybrid research vehicle, which they use to test and improve advanced driverless technology for their future vehicles. They expect to have a fully autonomous car on the market by 2025.
Let’s not forget, the 2013 Lincoln MKZ came with driver assistance features that are similar to those found in the 2014 Infiniti Q50.
BMW
BMW’s slogan, “The Ultimate Driving Machine” may take on a new meaning in the coming years. The famed luxury brand expects to have a partially autonomous car on the market by 2020 and a fully autonomous model by 2025.
However, they promise the driver will always have the option to assume control of the car for the exciting stretches of tarmac. While there’s nothing like racing down a winding backroad, sitting in an autonomous 2 series while it drifts around a track seems pretty thrilling.
Land Rover / Jaguar
Jaguar-Land Rover’s director of research and technology Dr. Wolfgang Epple has stated that they are designing their cars with the infrastructure to support autonomous driving.
Their ADAS, or Advanced Driver Assistance System, replaces the old closed systems of the car with a system of 220 sensors for better inter-connectivity. JLR expects the driverless technologies to be available in their cars by 2024.
General Motors
General Motors is exploring different avenues for driverless vehicles with both their Cadillac and Chevrolet brands. Executives from GM have stated that they expect most new cars to come with autonomous features, including vehicle-to-vehicle communication by 2025. What they haven’t stated yet is which Cadillac model will get the Supercruise treatment first. We’re hoping it’s the redesigned Escalade.
Where are all the other companies?
You might be wondering why Honda, Acura, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Porsche, Toyota, Lexus, Volkswagen, and Mitsubishi weren’t shown. Good question. As we said at the beginning of the post, we only included companies that have officially announced when they will have a completely driverless car. Each of these companies are researching the technology and have shown evidence they will have an autonomous car soon, but they have not disclosed a specific year.