Renault Nissan Alliance CEO Carlos Ghosn has announced at the Mobile World Congress 2015 that company’s autonomous drive technology could be introduced by 2016.
According to Ghosn, the first wave of autonomous drive technology will hit in 2016, which will allow cars to negotiate stop-and-go traffic without the intervention of a driver.
By 2018, the Alliance plans to introduce self-driving cars on the highway that will be able to navigate on its own and change lanes when necessary.
After introducing self-driving technology, the company is planning to launch technologies that will enable the car to navigate through complex city routes.
Ghosn highlighted that control of the vehicle will be in the hands of the driver, and who will be able to choose amongst the options.
The Alliance is working with governments across the world to get regulatory approves for the introduction of the next generation cars to roads.
Ghosn said: "So-called driverless cars are much further into the future, at least 10 years away.
"That is due to the many technological, legal, regulatory and security challenges involved in allowing vehicles on the road without a driver."
According to Ghosn, initially the new technology will be featured on higher-end Renault and Nissan cars.
Ghosn added: "We don't consider that other people making electric cars are competitors; we consider them allies.
"Because today, the battle is not who is going to have the biggest share of the electric car business. It's about how many companies are going to join in promoting zero-emission transportation."
