Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn Tests Autonomous Leaf in Japan

NissanNissanJapan, 1932 > present159 models
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CEO Carlos Ghosn was among the first people to experience Nissan’s autonomous LeafNissan LEAFJapan, 2009 > present29 versions
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being shown at CEATEC, Japan’s largest IT and electronics exhibition. The car was shown driving autonomously there from October 1-5.

Nissan first announced the car in August, when it said that it would have commercially viable autonomous vehicles on sale by 2020. Within two model generations from there, the technology would be available throughout its range.

Nissan says that it has been working on the technology for the last two years.

"The public sense that this is something of the future - something that they need and that they will use," said Ghosn. "Now, the pressure is on us since we have launched this wave of attention about the technology."

The autonomous Leaf is equipped with five laser scanners and five cameras that monitor 360 degrees around the car. The system’s artificial intelligence detects other vehicles and predicts their movements. During the demonstration, Nissan will have other vehicles being driven by actual people and simulate potentially risky situations.

Nissan claims that the system can accomplish driving behaviors like lane keeping, exiting highways, changing lanes, overtaking slower vehicles, decelerating and stopping at red lights.

Drivers can intervene in the system whenever they choose.

The car just received the license to drive on public roads and testing will begin in the coming weeks.