Robotic taxis are to become a common feature of everyday life by the year 2024 – at least, if you are to believe Renault chief executive Carlos Ghosn.
This gradual shift will involve a range of different levels of autonomy in cars, from intelligent assistance systems to completely driverless vehicles – "and we will experience all this in the next few years," said Ghosn at the recent CES trade show in Las Vegas.
However, he noted, a legal framework for this type of technology would be needed first.
The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance led by Ghosn plans to invest US$1bil (RM3.94bil) in start-ups over the next five years. Their first partner will be Ionic Materials, a US company that develops materials for solid-material batteries without cobalt.
In the first year of the plan, a total investment of US$200mil (RM786.92mil) is expected, said Ghosn in Las Vegas. The group’s broader plan will be to create a platform through which startup companies can enter into business with all three manufacturers at the same time. — dpa
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