Ghosn predicts autonomous cars plying on roads by 2018

Carlos Ghosn, CEO of the Renault-Nissan Alliance predicts autonomous vehicles to hit the roads by 2018. He had previously estimated their acceptance and viability around 2020 so it seems the Company’s Leaf based autonomous prototype must be on course for a production run in a few years. But Ghosn believes that this could be a possibility only if ‘red tape doesn’t get in the way’ according to a Reuters report. 

Carmakers the world over have been investing in autonomous car development since a few years now. Nissan has the Leaf based prototype and its alliance partner is developing one on the Zoe. Mercedes Benz as well has shown a autonomous prototype of the new S-Class driving through Germany. Even non automotive manufacturers like Google have showcased their own versions. Recently Google also displayed a prototype with no brakes and no steering wheel. 

"The problem isn't technology, it's legislation, and the whole question of responsibility that goes with these cars moving around ... and especially who is responsible once there is no longer anyone inside," Ghosn said at a French Automobile Club event.

Governments that are most likely to approve the use of driverless cars first will be the United States of America, Japan and France. The cars could reach these ‘pioneer countries’ by 2018 according to Ghosn, followed by commercialization across Europe by 2020.

Earlier this year an amendment was carried out in the United Nation rules that would let drivers take their hand off a self driving car. This amendment was pushed by Germany, Italy and France as their carmakers believe they are ready with their prototypes ahead of tech giants like Google. Europe wants to be the first to introduce autonomous driving promoted by conventional carmakers before tech companies take over what could be a driverless mobility future.

Governments are in a now in a fix on how to treat driverless cars. If the amendments break through bureaucratic hurdles, autonomous cars will be allowed as long as the system can be overridden or switched off at any time. This means you will still have to know to drive even if you own a driverless car in the future. 

States like California have already drafted a set of rules governing autonomous cars on public roads. Some of the rules include not sleeping in the driver’s seat, the driver’s seat always needs to be occupied and the autonomous cars should have an override or turn off switch for the driver to take control. You can’t read a newspaper either while in the driver’s seat.