Blog of RENAULT NISSAN Alliance

The autonomous car is a step closer to becoming reality in France thanks to the government's decision to authorize testing. Piloted by Renault-Nissan Alliance CEO Carlos Ghosn, the project was chosen as one of six new innovations for future development.

As part of the French government's “Nouvelle France industrielle” program, which aims to position France as an industrial leader in the digital age, the project is subject to a precise action plan based on key dates and deadlines. The ultimate objective is to make autonomous cars available to the public by 2020.

Once the technology is perfected, autonomous cars will be capable of sensing their surroundings, navigating and driving themselves – and the potential benefits are numerous. With around 90% of road accidents currently caused by human error, such vehicles would have a significant impact on road safety.

The French government also believes the cars would help improve drivers' quality of life by freeing up their time to do other tasks during their journeys. Other benefits would include the potential for improving public transport and making driving more accessible to elderly people and those with disabilities.

Testing is due to start as early as 2015, but considerable research and development must be completed before the project receives final approval. The programme will include a series of rigorous safety checks and a study into the socio-economic impact of the technology. If all goes according to plan, French roads will open to autonomous cars within the next six years.

The official government press release can be found here.