In photos: Toyota self-driving car goes for a spin
Toyota unveiled its vision for self-driving cars in a challenge to other auto makers as well as industry newcomer Google Inc., promising to start selling such vehicles in Japan by 2020. Toyota Motor Corp. demonstrated on a regular Tokyo freeway Tuesday what it called the “mobility teammate concept,” meaning the driver and the artificial intelligence in a sensor-packed car work together as a team. In the demonstration, a Lexus drove itself within the 60 km/h speed limit for about 10 minutes, changing lanes, braking and steering. The human at the wheel did nothing except turn on a button to kick in the technology. Toyota’s plans are part of a larger Japanese government initiative to pioneer automated driving in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Japan's auto giant Toyota demonstrates autonomous driving with a Lexus GS450h on the Tokyo metropolitan highway during Toyota's advanced technology presentation in Tokyo.YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP / Getty Images
Japan's auto giant Toyota demonstrates autonomous driving with a Lexus GS450h on the Tokyo metropolitan highway during Toyota's advanced technology presentation in Tokyo.YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP / Getty Images
An in-car display screen is seen as Japan's auto giant Toyota demonstrates autonomous driving with a Lexus GS450h on the Tokyo metropolitan highway during Toyota's advanced technology presentation in Tokyo.YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP / Getty Images
Visitors look at Japan's auto giant Toyota Lexus GS450h, which can be driven autonomously, during Toyota's advanced technology presentation in Tokyo on October 6, 2015.YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP / Getty Images
Visitors look at Japan's auto giant Toyota Lexus GS450h, which can be driven autonomously, during Toyota's advanced technology presentation in Tokyo.YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP / Getty Images
Japan's auto giant Toyota demonstrates autonomous driving with a Lexus GS450h on the Tokyo metropolitan highway during Toyota's advanced technology presentation in Tokyo.YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP / Getty Images
Japan's auto giant Toyota demonstrates autonomous driving with a Lexus GS450h on the Tokyo metropolitan highway during Toyota's advanced technology presentation in Tokyo.YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP / Getty Images
Japan's auto giant Toyota demonstrates autonomous driving with a Lexus GS450h on the Tokyo metropolitan highway during Toyota's advanced technology presentation in Tokyo.YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP / Getty Images
An employee of Toyota Motor Corp., drives automated driving test vehicle during a test drive of Toyota's self-driving technologies in Tokyo.Koji Sasahara/The Associated Press
Toyota Motor Corp., automated driving test vehicle enters a highway on-ramp in Tokyo.Koji Sasahara/The Associated Press
Dashboard panel of Toyota Motor Corp.'s automated driving test vehicle shows the vehicle detecting other vehicle during a test drive of Toyota's self-driving technologies in Tokyo.Koji Sasahara/The Associated Press
Toyota Motor Corp. Crown vehicles are driven during a test drive in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015. The Crown sedan will be the first of three Toyota models going on sale in Japan this year that can deliver audio and visual alerts when a driver has taken his or her foot off the brake and has started to creep into an intersection.Akio Kon/Bloomberg
The instrument panel is seen inside a Toyota Motor Corp. Crown vehicle during a test drive in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015. The Crown sedan will be the first of three Toyota models going on sale in Japan this year that can deliver audio and visual alerts when a driver has taken his or her foot off the brake and has started to creep into an intersection.Akio Kon/Bloomberg
The dashboard is seen inside a Toyota Motor Corp. Crown vehicle during a test drive in Tokyo.Akio Kon/Bloomberg
The steering wheel and instrument panel are seen inside a Toyota Motor Corp. Crown vehicle during a test drive in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015. The Crown sedan will be the first of three Toyota models going on sale in Japan this year that can deliver audio and visual alerts when a driver has taken his or her foot off the brake and has started to creep into an intersection.Akio Kon/Bloomberg
The Toyota Motor Corp. Crown vehicle stands during a test drive in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015. The Crown sedan will be the first of three Toyota models going on sale in Japan this year that can deliver audio and visual alerts when a driver has taken his or her foot off the brake and has started to creep into an intersection.Akio Kon/Bloomberg
The Toyota Motor Corp. Crown vehicle is driven during a test drive in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015. The Crown sedan will be the first of three Toyota models going on sale in Japan this year that can deliver audio and visual alerts when a driver has taken his or her foot off the brake and has started to creep into an intersection.Akio Kon/Bloomberg
The Toyota Motor Corp. Crown vehicle is driven during a test drive in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015. The Crown sedan will be the first of three Toyota models going on sale in Japan this year that can deliver audio and visual alerts when a driver has taken his or her foot off the brake and has started to creep into an intersection.Akio Kon/Bloomberg
Chief Safety Technology Officer of Toyota Motor Corp. Moritaka Yoshida speaks during an interview in front of the automaker's automated driving test vehicle in Tokyo.Koji Sasahara/The Associated Press
Toyota Motor Corp.'s automated driving test vehicle is displayed in Tokyo, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015. Toyota Motor Corp. demonstrated on a regular Tokyo freeway Tuesday what it called the "mobility teammate concept," meaning the driver and the artificial intelligence in a sensor-packed car work together as a team.Koji Sasahara/The Associated Press