Toyota To Focus On Improving Safety Not Driverless Cars

Toyota executives say the company's primary focus is on safety. At least for the time being, that means the company won't pursue development of a driverless car.

Speaking at the company's advanced safety seminar in Ypsilanti, MI, Thursday morning, Seigo Kuzumaki, Toyota's deputy chief safety technology officer, said that Toyota envisions a future driving environment that optimizes the best of both humans and computers, not choosing one over the other.

"Toyota's main objective is safety, so it will not be developing a driverless car," he said.
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TheSteve - 9/4/2014 2:57:53 PM

+1 Boost

I'd say that's a sound idea. For ANYONE!

TheSteve - 9/4/2014 2:59:30 PM

+1 Boost

BTW, that's similar to focusing on fuel economy, or low environmental impact, rather than focusing on EVs or hybrids. Focus on the objective. Be flexible in how you get there.

Agent009 - 9/4/2014 4:39:50 PM

+1 Boost

Historically this is always the case. Let the competition do the R&D and after the bleeding edge of technology has been shaken out. You create your own version, sidestepping the issues of those driving the technology.

Wait, copy, refine... low risk

TheSteve - 9/4/2014 5:52:58 PM

+1 Boost

'009 writes "Historically this is always the case..."

What you speak of is an entirely different matter. An example of what I'm talking about is car companies that jump on the EV or hybrid band wagon because it's the flavor du jour. They create a vehicle that *should* be remarkably better, but in actuality, it does more for the owner's self-esteem in believing they're saving the planet rather than actually making a substantial difference.

EV makers jumped on board because they thought they could make a pile of money on substantial numbers of consumers who believe an EV is more economical to own/operate, or better for the planet than a gasoline-powered car. Turns out not enough people believe that to make it worth their while.

In Toyota's case, I applaud them for attempting to focus on design and technology (active and passive) that will ACTUALLY make cars safer, rather than jumping on the driverless car bandwagon -- the flavor du jour -- because some people BELIEVE it'll make cars safer, regardless if their concepts can actually be put into mass production to create a net positive effect.