Toyota plans U.S. artificial intelligence research with focus on self-driving cars
- 9 years ago
Toyota Motor Corp said on Friday it will set up a research and development company with a focus on artificial intelligence in Silicon Valley, as competition to develop self-driving cars intensifies.
The world's top-selling automaker plans to invest $1 billion in R&D over the next five years in a departure from its cautious stance on automated drive.
"I used to say, quite until recently, that we will go ahead with automated drive only if they beat humans in a 24-hour car race," Toyota President Akio Toyoda told a news conference.
"But I changed my mind after I got involved with planning of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games (in Tokyo)," he said, explaining it opened his eyes to the need for cars for the disabled and elderly.
Technology firms such as Alphabet, formerly known as Google, and Apple are muscling into the auto industry, hiring car experts to bring self-drive cars to reality, hopefully within five years.
The world's top-selling automaker plans to invest $1 billion in R&D over the next five years in a departure from its cautious stance on automated drive.
"I used to say, quite until recently, that we will go ahead with automated drive only if they beat humans in a 24-hour car race," Toyota President Akio Toyoda told a news conference.
"But I changed my mind after I got involved with planning of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games (in Tokyo)," he said, explaining it opened his eyes to the need for cars for the disabled and elderly.
Technology firms such as Alphabet, formerly known as Google, and Apple are muscling into the auto industry, hiring car experts to bring self-drive cars to reality, hopefully within five years.