When and from whom will there be self-driving cars?

Tesla

Tesla, something of a bridge between the technology companies and car companies, began offering an Autopilot feature for drivers of its Model S sedan in October 2014. That was then followed by software updates that introduced features like auto-steer, traffic-aware cruise control, auto park and auto lane change, according to The Verge. Last May, Tesla announced they were out-pacing Google and that their drivers used Autopilot for over 100 million miles.

However, it should be noted that what Tesla offers is “Level 2” on the “autonomous vehicle spectrum” as outlined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Most in the self-driving car race are going for Level 4, which means the vehicle is fully autonomous and can be driven without human intervention at any point. All of which is to say, in a self-driving Tesla, you’re supposed to be fully engaged and ready to take over at any time. Full level 4 autonomy, most experts believe, requires LIDAR laser technology – which Elon Musk has so far refused to use.

Where does it rank? 12th. Good on vision and market strategy thanks to Elon Musk and Autopilot availability, respectively. Poor marks for staying power (on account of being new), sales, marketing, distribution and technology.

When can you ride? Now, if you own or can afford a Tesla Model S or Model X. Upcoming hardware will outfit new Teslas to “set the foundation for full autonomy” but again, without LIDAR, they may still be short of Level 4.

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