Honda Receives Approval To Test Self-Driving Cars On California’s Roads

Honda has received a permit from the state of California to drive its autonomous vehicles on public streets, joining other companies ranging from Google to Volkswagen who are testing the ever-evolving technology of self-driving cars.

On its website, the California Department of Motor Vehicles listed Honda as the most recent of 10 companies that have received self-driving permits to date. Other companies that have already been approved include Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Nissan and BMW.

Honda is one of many automakers investing in self-driving car development, and the company is already deploying advanced driver-assistance systems across its Honda and Acura models. Some automakers, such as Tesla and BMW, already offer semi-autonomous features in their vehicles.

The Japanese carmaker has already secured an autonomous vehicle testing facility in Concord, California, northeast of San Francisco, where its self-driving cars can get a test run before on-road testing commences. California is one of a small number of states that have passed legislation enabling the testing of self-driving cars on public roads, including Florida, Michigan and Nevada.

Google and other automotive manufacturers and suppliers have said the technology required to build self-driving cars should be ready by 2020. Perhaps this will come to fruition along with consumer acceptance and regulatory advancements, thereby allowing autonomous vehicles to become commonplace on our roads in the next five-to-10 years.