Honda Targets SAE Level 4 Autonomy by 2025

Honda Motor Co. plans to introduce vehicles with “highly automated” driving capabilities by 2025.

The carmaker says the vehicles will meet SAE International’s Level 4 guidelines, which call for vehicles to drive, brake and steer themselves on highways and city roads under “most” situations. Honda previously has said it will launch select Acura and Honda vehicles that can operate autonomously during highway driving (SAE Level 3) by 2020.

Most carmakers currently offer at least one model with Level 2 automation, in which two automated technologies (such as adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist) work together. The top Level 5 designation is for fully autonomous vehicles at all times with no driver involvement.

Honda made the announcement today in Japan at a media event detailing the company’s “Vision 2030” strategic plan. The carmaker also vowed to boost research and development spending and to better coordinate r&d activities with those performed by its purchasing and manufacturing operations.

Honda plans to make advanced safety, automation and electrification the company’s “utmost priority," in the future. This will require a tighter focus on robotics and artificial intelligence, the company notes.