Honda gets serious about self-driving cars, plans to launch one by 2025

Specifically, Honda is aiming for Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Level 4 autonomy. The SAE defines autonomous driving in six levels, from Level 0 to Level 5. Level 4 allows for autonomous driving most of the time, but with exceptions or situations like bad weather, where a human driver may be asked to retake control. Honda previously said it would achieve Level 3 autonomy by 2020.

Honda’s autonomous-car development efforts aren’t as extensive as those of other automakers, but it is making progress. In the United States, the company is testing cars at GoMentum Station, a dedicated testing facility for self-driving cars on the grounds of the former Concord Naval Weapons Station in the San Francisco Bay Area. At the event announcing its Level 4 autonomy plans, Honda demonstrated a self-driving car in simulated traffic at its Japanese R&D facility.