Honda Aims for First Commercial Driverless Car by 2026

Honda Motor is making bold strides in the automotive industry with its announcement to become the first company in the world to launch a commercial driverless car in 2026. The innovative Honda 0 Series, a new electric vehicle platform, is set to debut at the upcoming CES show in January and hit the market in 2026.

The groundbreaking technologies integrated into the Honda 0 Series aim to revolutionize the concept of automated driving. By leveraging cutting-edge software defined vehicle systems, Honda plans to extend eyes-off automated functions to all driving scenarios, marking a significant milestone in the automotive sector. The company is currently conducting tests on these advanced systems in India to ensure seamless performance.

Central to the success of the Honda 0 Series are the Automated Driving and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (AD/ADAS), which harness the power of unsupervised learning from Helm.ai. These systems, combined with Internet of Things (IoT) and connected technologies, pave the way for a new era of intelligent and autonomous driving.

At CES, Honda unveiled two concept models of the Honda 0 Series – the Saloon and the Space-Hub. The production model of the Saloon is projected to be 100kg lighter than previous electric vehicles, showcasing Honda's commitment to innovation and sustainability. By 2030, Honda plans to introduce seven 0 Series models globally, catering to various vehicle sizes and preferences.

In collaboration with Nissan, Honda is developing its own vehicle operating system tailored for software defined vehicles. This system will facilitate over-the-air (OTA) updates, ensuring that the vehicles remain up-to-date with the latest features and enhancements. Additionally, Honda has partnered with Renesas Electronics to integrate advanced controllers into the 0 Series models, further enhancing their performance and functionality.