Honda claims to be the first to mass produce level 3 self-driving vehicles

Japanese carmaker Honda said on Wednesday it will be the world’s first automaker to mass produce level 3 autonomous cars.

“Honda is planning to launch sales of a Honda Legend (luxury sedan) equipped with the newly approved automated driving equipment” before the end of March 2021, Honda said in a press release.

The announcement comes on the same day as the Japanese government granted a safety certification to Honda’s autonomous “Traffic Jam Pilot” technology that allows drivers to take their eyes off the road as vehicles self-drive during traffic congestions.

“Self driving cars are expected to play a big role in helping reduce traffic accidents, provide transportation for the elderly and improve logistics,” said Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

This is another move in the race to produce fully autonomous vehicles in which there are giant competitors such as Google and Tesla.

In July, US electric vehicle maker Tesla said it was “very close” to achieving the top level of autonomous driving (level 5).