#GIMSSWISS: VW Executive Claims Level 5 Autonomy Will Never Be A Global Reality

Fully autonomous vehicles will take at least another five years to perfect, with the cost and complexity of rolling out the technology globally undermining the business case, Volkswagen's head of commercial vehicles said.

Autonomous cars require high-tech infrastructure, hugely expensive lidar and radar systems, as well as pricey deals with cloud computing and mapping providers, VW's Thomas Sedran told Reuters on the sidelines of the Geneva motor show.

"It will take another five years to develop the technology to achieve higher levels of autonomy. Can you see a business case which justifies these overheads for this period of time? It's just too expensive," Sedran said.

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CANADIANCOMMENTS - 3/6/2019 11:28:11 AM

+1 Boost

So much for the rolling living room bubble car with the teak floors, sable seat covers and a Bang and Olufsen hi-fi with 1000w and cloud streamed tv entertainment. I am not sure who's vision this is of the automobile but it sure isn't mine.

PUGPROUD - 3/6/2019 1:00:57 PM

+2 Boost

Never is a long long time. If not this century maybe the next.

malba2367 - 3/6/2019 5:03:41 PM

-1 Boost

It will become a reality in developed countries. Autonomous will never work in countries where driving is more of a free for all than an organized system.

garysandiego - 3/6/2019 11:29:09 PM

+3 Boost

@malba2367 You mean Italy? or Boston?