Kia is looking to introduce self-driving cars to their lineup of cars by 2030. The South Korean car maker joins the ranks Google and Mercedez-Benz to build smart cars. This was revealed as part of the car maker’s participation at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show.
Kia Long Term Goal: Self-Driving Cars for the Masses by 2030
The company will be actively taking action to build the kind of self-driving car that can be distributed to the masses. For now, Kia will be making an effort to introduce self-driving technology to its model range. The car maker plans to upgrade their DriveWise technology to feature completely automated parking as well as highway driving assist in the next four years.
South Korean Car Maker Announces 2 Billion Investment on Self-Driving Technology
Kia is not looking to appeal to one group of people. They want to tackle their entire clientele as a whole. The company’s goal is to bring drivers a better quality of life by giving them a smart way to stay safe on the roads. This is unlike Mercedes-Benz and Google. Mercedes-Benz is looking to appeal to the kind of buyers that also want luxury, and Google is planning to change the way public transportation works.
The car maker will be testing their 100% self-driving car in Nevada soon. The prototype is based on the Kia Sol electric vehicle and will be joined by the Kia Novo. This concept model will feature self-driving and even in-vehicle payments. Kia is planning to implement a new kind of smart-button security that only needs a fingerprint for the car to start. The scanned footprint will also pull up the driver’s customized infotainment system and all their other preferences.
This is Only a Long Term Plan
These fancy features won’t be available for another decade or two, but it’s clear already that self-driving will be the next big thing in the car making industry. Tesla, Audi and Mercedez-Benz are no longer the only ones in the game. As companies like Kia get into the self-driving industry, the technology will be available to a wider range of people. The combination of luxury and technology is accessible to many, but the price tag also matters.
