Move over, Google robot car, Honda now has the green light to test autonomous vehicles on California roads.
Modified versions of the Acura RLX will venture out on the state’s public roads “imminently,” Honda North America spokesman Matt Sloustcher told SiliconBeat.
Honda in March announced that it had started testing its autonomous vehicles and connected technology at the GoMentum Station at the Concord Naval Weapons Station, as we reported here.
But as Sloustcher said, “at a certain point in the development phase, those systems need to be tested in a realistic setting.” He declined to say how many autonomous vehicles Honda would be unleashing in the real world.
The cars won’t be completely driving themselves right away. “Honda is broadly deploying advanced driver assistive systems across the Honda and Acura lineup, while developing fully automated driving technologies for the future,” Sloustcher said.
Mercedes-Benz also is testing its technology at the GoMentum Station, which can host up to five automakers and 15 companies doing similar work.
Honda, Google and Mercedes aren’t the only ones in the autonomous-testing mood. The other companies that have the California DMV’s blessing as of Sept. 4: Tesla, Volkswagen, Nissan, BMW, Delphi Automotive, Bosch and Cruise Automation.
Photo: A modified Acura RLX is tested at the GoMentum station. (Courtesy of Honda)