Self-Driving Cars for Sale by 2020 Says Automaker

"In 2007 I pledged that by 2010, Nissan would mass market a zero-emission vehicle," said Nissan and Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn in a statement. "Today, the Nissan Leaf is the best-selling electric vehicle in history. Now I am committing to be ready to introduce a new ground-breaking technology, Autonomous Drive, by 2020, and we are on track to realize it."

The early stages of autonomous technology are already deployed in the 2014 Infiniti Q50 sedan. "It makes first use of advanced technology that allows it to essentially drive itself on a highway," writes Chris Woodyard. "The Q50 has a system that keeps the vehicle driving in its lane on freeways. Coupled with an adaptive cruise control that maintains a set distance from other cars and brakes if the car ahead -- or the car ahead of that one -- slows, it allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel."