Honda to Fund and Develop New Autonomous Vehicle

Did you know that Honda to Fund and Develop New Autonomous Vehicle? They’re actually planning on putting $2B into this type of tech. Yes, Honda will be investing $2 billion into autonomous vehicle-related initiatives over the next 12 years, according to an official company press release.

The automotive giant will be partnering with Cruise and General Motors for the joint venture.

General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra characterized the partnership as a logical next step in the two automakers (Honda and GM) ongoing relationship.

(According to their website) Cruise builds the world’s best autonomous vehicles in order to safely connect its clientele to the places, things, and experiences they care about; GM, on the other hand, has long been one of the U.S.’s famed Big 3 automakers.

For their part, Honda has long been a successful, future-focused company.

As such, the triumvirate has the potential to disrupt the auto industry…

IN A MAJOR WAY.

(Don’t be surprised if they end up doing just that).

Today’s Auto Industry: Ripe for a disruption

The partnership comes right as the auto industry finds itself ripe for disruption. With changing consumer preferences and technology’s continual (and unstoppable) march, the automotive industry will inevitably experience an overhaul.

To put it succinctly, autonomous vehicles (e.g., vehicles that can guide themselves without human conduction) have the potential to become the auto industry’s next big thing.

The Future is Autonomous

Remember the term autonomous car technology─you’ll likely be seeing it in lights soon.

In fact, many U.S. cities are already planning accordingly.

This includes Kirkland.

That’s because, according to Seattle Magazine, Kirkland Washington is one of the few select U.S. cities where automated vehicles are currently being tested (in terms of how they perform against traditional vehicles in safety-related matters).

Preparations are being made across the country as well. In a report on the future of Florida’s transportation and land use, Florida State University’s Department of Urban & Regional Planning maintains that automated vehicles will “be the catalyst for the next great transformation in (their) transportation systems.”

Imagine what they’ll do for the country as a whole.

Autonomous Cars: Projected Specs

The autonomous cars of the future will likely:

• Be of either the connected or independent variety. Independent offerings will feature smart/ sensor-based tech on your vehicle, while connected autonomous vehicles will involve tech that allows your vehicle to communicate/ receive info from other cars that are on the road.
• Be either partially or completely built-to-order.
• Play a (major?) role in private, non-commercial transportation becoming a pay-as-you-go service.
• Have a positive impact on environmental and safety outcomes.
• Positively impact non-drivers, the elderly, and other segments of the public who have travel restrictions placed on them (due to things like medical issues).