Nissan pledges autonomous cars by 2020

NISSAN CEO Carlos Ghosn this week announced a brand new ambition in delivering more autonomous vehicles to consumers by decade's end. The Japanese automaker has already started constructing a dedicated autonomous vehicles proving ground in Japan, targeting completion by the end of 2014.
Besides that, key partnerships have been forged between Nissan and with several entities including MIT, Stanford, and Oxford to outfit several Nissan Leaf electric vehicles (EV) with its new 'Autonomous Drive' suite.
Nissan's approach in Autonomous Drive utilises the Around-View monitoring system working in conjunction with laser scanners scanning its environment. Following this is the installation of artificial intelligence systems to aid with navigation and operation in changing environments.

CEO Ghosn has targeted the introduction of Autonomous Drive technologies into Nissan's mass production vehicles by the year 2020. The firm also expects to have said technology available in its model range within two vehicle generations.