Driverless cars still a decade away - Nissan-Renault CEO

Driverless cars are at least 10 years away, but forms of autonomous driving will emerge next year, according to Carlos Ghosn, chief executive of Nissan-Renault.

Speaking at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, he said the first wave of autonomous driving will emerge next year, but will be limited to when cars are stuck in traffic jams. In traffic jams, autonomous driving will allow the driver to take their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road.

“The technology is ready, we just need regulators to accept,” he said.

He envisages a second wave of autonomous driving by 2018, which will see cars have the capability to drive themselves on the highway and switch lanes without interference by a driver.

Mr Ghosn believes it will take at least 10 years before we have driverless cars due to regulatory and cyber security issues.

He welcomed the idea that Apple wants to get into the electric car business.

“The fact that a company outside of the auto industry wants to do electric cars is refreshing and comforting,” he said, adding that he was curious about the Apple project but not worried.