Infiniti to let drivers decide on autonomy

Autonomous cars are the hot topic of the moment, with every manufacturer keen to show off its vision of letting technology take the wheel.

Such talk paints a fairly dystopian future for driving enthusiasts, who risk seeing their passion regulated out of existence, but not every manufacturer is willing to entirely hand over the keys to computers just yet.

Infiniti’s vice president of global product and programs and motorsport, Francois Bancon, has promised the company’s policy will be to let drivers choose when and if the autonomous driving aids will take control.

“Our religion is very clear,” said Bancon. “We make cars for people who love to drive. Our system, by definition, will be on-demand – you decide, we don’t. If you want to give up and make email, but if you don’t you switch if off. I think as a performance company that’s the minimum we should do.”

Despite being a self-professed car guy, Bancon acknowledges the advantages of autonomous driving: “You just came here with the traffic jam – 50 per cent of the time it’s just annoying to drive! We have to give time back. We already have AD (autonomous driving) first generation, we’re going to have second generation soon, mainly highway or big freeway context, because this is probably the easiest part and less risky, including lane changes so you can just relax.”

Nonetheless, Bancon is adamant higher levels of autonomy that will allow drivers to turn off completely (level four or five) are still some way off. Currently, Audi’s new A8 is the only production car available with level three autonomy, which means it can manage most driving conditions, but the driver must be able to take over at any time. Even then, the A8’s abilities are hamstrung by regulation.

“When you talk about level four or five, believe me we are not in panic mode, it’s going to take more time than you think,” said Bancon, dismissing the claims of some manufacturers that fully autonomous cars will be on the road as soon as 2020 or 2021: “It’s not bold, it’s just ridiculous.

“To make a system beyond level three, you need a connection car-to-car, you need a connection car-to-city – who’s going to pay? The city? There is no standard at the moment, there is one in the US but it’s a premature system.

"I tend to think you are going to have some level of autonomy in a car, level two or three with some context, then some tests, kind of [driverless] robo-taxi – it’s not a car any more, it’s a box that you use – and that’s going to be in a controlled environment.”

The big question might be whether regulations allow Infiniti to fulfil its promise.