Imagine a world where you can hop into a car without a driver, sit back and relax as it takes you to your destination, and pay for the ride with a tap of your phone. This is not science fiction, but a reality that is already happening in some parts of Asia.
Driverless cars, also known as autonomous vehicles (AVs), are cars that can operate without human intervention, using sensors, cameras, artificial intelligence and software to navigate the roads. They have the potential to revolutionize transportation, making it safer, more efficient and more accessible.
According to a report by Allied Market Research, the global market for driverless cars is expected to reach $556.67 billion by 2026, with Asia-Pacific being the fastest-growing region. Several countries in Asia are leading the way in developing and testing AVs, such as Singapore, China, Japan and South Korea.
Singapore is one of the most advanced countries in the world when it comes to AVs. The city-state has been testing AVs since 2015, and has designated several areas as testbeds for AVs, such as one-north, Jurong Island and Sentosa.
Singapore aims to become a “smart nation” that leverages technology to improve the lives of its citizens. AVs are seen as a key component of its smart mobility vision, which seeks to reduce congestion, pollution and accidents on its roads.
One of the pioneers of AVs in Singapore is nuTonomy, a company that was acquired by Aptiv in 2017. nuTonomy launched the world’s first public trial of driverless taxis in Singapore in 2016, offering free rides to selected passengers in one-north. Since then, nuTonomy has expanded its fleet and service area, and partnered with ride-hailing company Grab to offer driverless rides to more users.
Another company that is making waves in Singapore’s AV scene is Waymo, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet. Waymo is widely regarded as the leader in AV technology, having driven more than 20 million miles on public roads across 25 cities in the US. In 2019, Waymo announced that it would set up its first overseas subsidiary in Singapore, and conduct trials of its driverless cars on public roads.
Singapore’s government is also supportive of AVs, providing funding, regulation and infrastructure for their development and deployment. In 2020, Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) issued provisional licenses to four companies – nuTonomy, Waymo, Baidu and AutoX – to operate driverless cars for hire. LTA also plans to roll out dedicated lanes for AVs on some roads by 2025.
China is another major player in the AV industry, with a huge market potential and a strong government backing. China has the world’s largest population of car owners and internet users, as well as a fast-growing economy and urbanization rate. These factors create a huge demand for smart mobility solutions that can improve efficiency, convenience and safety.
China’s government has also set ambitious goals for AVs, aiming to achieve mass production of driverless cars by 2021, and have 50% of new vehicles equipped with some level of automation by 2025. China has also issued national guidelines and standards for AV testing and safety, as well as invested heavily in infrastructure such as 5G networks and smart roads.
Some of the leading companies in China’s AV sector are Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent – collectively known as BAT – which are also the country’s internet giants. Baidu is especially prominent in AVs, having launched its open-source platform Apollo in 2017, which provides software, hardware and data services for AV developers. Baidu has also formed partnerships with over 200 companies, including carmakers, suppliers and ride-hailing firms.
Baidu has been testing its driverless cars on public roads since 2016, and has obtained licenses to operate them in several cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing.
Japan and South Korea are also among the frontrunners in AV technology, with a strong tradition of innovation and collaboration in the automotive industry. Both countries have well-developed car manufacturing sectors, with global brands such as Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Kia. They also have advanced research and development capabilities, as well as supportive government policies and regulations.
Japan has been testing AVs on public roads since 2013, and has designated several areas as special zones for AV trials, such as Tokyo, Yokohama and Fukushima. Japan’s government has also set a goal to have driverless cars on its roads by 2020, in time for the Tokyo Olympics. Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has also issued guidelines and standards for AV safety and certification.
Some of the leading companies in Japan’s AV sector are Toyota, Honda and Nissan, which are also part of a consortium called the Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP). SIP is a government-funded initiative that aims to accelerate the development and deployment of AVs in Japan, by facilitating collaboration among carmakers, suppliers, universities and research institutes.
Toyota is especially active in AVs, having invested over $1 billion in its research institute Toyota Research Institute (TRI), which focuses on artificial intelligence, robotics and AVs. Toyota has also formed partnerships with other companies such as Uber, SoftBank and Panasonic to develop and test AVs. In 2020, Toyota unveiled its e-Palette, a driverless electric vehicle that can be used for various purposes such as transportation, delivery and retail.
South Korea has also been testing AVs on public roads since 2016, and has designated several areas as testbeds for AVs, such as Seoul, Gyeonggi and Jeju. South Korea’s government has also set a goal to have driverless cars on its roads by 2024, and has issued guidelines and standards for AV testing and safety.
Some of the leading companies in South Korea’s AV sector are Hyundai, Kia and LG, which are also part of a consortium called the Intelligent Vehicle IT Research Center (IVI). IVI is a government-funded initiative that aims to foster collaboration among carmakers, suppliers, universities and research institutes to develop and test AVs.
Hyundai is particularly prominent in AVs, having invested over $2 billion in its joint venture with Aptiv, which focuses on developing software and hardware for AVs. Hyundai has also formed partnerships with other companies such as Uber, Nvidia and Cisco to develop and test AVs.
In 2020. Baidu launched its robotaxi service Apollo Go in Beijing, becoming the first company to offer driverless rides to the public in China’s capital city. Users can book a ride through Baidu’s app or website, and enjoy a free trip in a driverless car with a safety engineer on board.
Another company that is making strides in China’s AV market is AutoX, a start-up backed by Alibaba. AutoX has been testing its driverless cars in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Wuhan, and has obtained licenses to operate them without safety drivers in some areas.
In 2020, AutoX launched its robotaxi service in Shenzhen, offering free rides to users who sign up on its app. ## Japan and South Korea: Innovation and Collaboration Japan and South Korea are also among the frontrunners in AV technology, with a strong tradition of innovation and collaboration in the automotive industry.
Both countries have well-developed car manufacturing sectors, with global brands such as Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Kia. They also have advanced research and development capabilities, as well as supportive government policies and regulations. Japan has been testing AVs on public roads since 2013, and has designated several areas as special zones for AV trials, such as Tokyo, Yokohama and Fukushima.
Driverless cars are not only changing the way we drive, but also the way we live. They offer many opportunities for improving mobility, safety, convenience and sustainability. They can reduce traffic congestion, pollution and accidents, as well as provide access to transportation for people who cannot drive or own a car. They can also create new business models and services, such as robotaxis, delivery robots and mobile shops.
However, driverless cars also pose many challenges that need to be addressed before they can become mainstream. They require high levels of technical sophistication, reliability and security, as well as ethical and legal frameworks that can ensure accountability and responsibility. They also need to gain public trust and acceptance, as well as coexist with human drivers and pedestrians.
Learn more:1. channelnewsasia.com 2. bbc.com 3. techradar.com
Click here to Read on
MOH Should Stop The ‘Back Door Ban’ on Vape
The improved formulations now offer an added nutritional support with Lutein, a nutrient that helps…
FWD Takaful and MBSB Bank have entered a bancatakaful service agreement to promote and market…
Brand Finance’s Airlines 50 2026 report shows Malaysia ranks 14th globally by total airline brand value at $3 billion
Samsung crossed the $1 trillion market value milestone, driven by AI smartphones, booming semiconductor demand…
Nonetheless, it is highly expected that an intermittent correction may emerge anytime soon
Trend dynamics for CIMB are turning constructive, with improving momentum.
This website uses cookies.