Honda Targets 2020 for Self-Driving Systems

Honda Motor Co. plans to introduce vehicles with automated driving systems by about 2020, Reuters reports. That’s the same timeframe targeted by several other carmakers, including General Motors, Nissan and Toyota.

Honda is expected to detail more about its plans next week at the Tokyo auto show, where it will unveil the Wander Stand personal mobility concept device with a self-driving mode. The two-person pod features omnidirectional in-wheel motors and a windshield that acts as a giant head-up display system.

Honda began testing automated and connected vehicle technologies in modified Acura RLX sedans earlier this year at the Concord Naval Weapons Station near San Francisco. The RLX prototypes are equipped with a variety of advanced cameras, sensors and driver-assist systems that allows for autonomous driving under certain conditions.

The carmaker also is participating in the University of Michigan’s Mobility Transformation Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. The 32-acre proving ground, which was designed specifically to test autonomous and connected car technologies, features a variety of real-world road and infrastructure conditions, and simulated interactions with pedestrians and bicyclists.