Mazda to make all its vehicles autonomous by 2025
Mazda has stated its intention to make all of its vehicles autonomous by 2025 as part of a broader plan to transform the entire company by 2030.
The company says it will “begin testing of autonomous driving technologies currently being developed in line with Mazda’s human-centered Mazda Co-Pilot Concept in 2020, aiming to make the system standard on all models by 2025”.
Mazda says it wants to build cars that “provide safety peace of mind”, and that provide “unrestricted mobility to people everywhere”.
Mazda says it follows a “human-centered self-driving technology development concept”.
“People enjoy driving while being revitalized mentally and physically,” says the company in a statement.
“Meanwhile the car is driving ‘virtually’ with a firm grasp of the movements of the driver and the car. In unexpected situations, such as a sudden loss of consciousness, the car will override the driver, automatically contact emergency services and drive safely to the most appropriate location.”
Mazda is a Japanese automaker, established in 1920. It currently produces a variety of cars and light trucks as well as engines.
Among the innovations the company is highlighting is what it says is the world’s first commercial gasoline engine to use compression ignition, called SkyActiv-X.
The new technique is said to improve fuel economy and increase engine performance by 10 to 30 per cent.