Toyota plans to launch a new driver assistance system in 2028
Toyota plans to introduce a new generation of its driver assistance system on 2028 model-year vehicles and expand it to more cars by 2030. The system will operate under driver supervision and may prove more functional than the company’s current solutions, InsideEVs reports, citing Nikkei.
A level between two and three
According to Nikkei, Toyota’s development is described by the term “Level 2++.” This is not an official SAE classification, but a marketing designation for systems whose capabilities fall between the second and third levels of automation. At Level 2, a vehicle can maintain a set distance and center itself in its lane, but the driver retains full control of driving.
Systems that automakers call L2+ or L2++ can be used on highways and in cities for point-to-point travel under driver supervision. The driver must be ready to intervene in driving. Toyota currently offers adaptive cruise control with lane centering, lane-change assistance, and automatic parking.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Additional AI oversight
As Nikkei writes, Toyota does not plan to rely solely on end-to-end artificial intelligence, in which one neural network processes all tasks. The company intends to add a “guardrail” system that will monitor the AI’s operation and block unexpected actions in accordance with parameters set by people in advance.
Akihiro Sarada, head of Toyota’s Software Development Center, told Nikkei that the company will develop the technology to the technical Level 4 standard but commercially offer the system as Level 2++. Toyota estimates that this approach could prevent approximately 60% of current road traffic deaths and injuries.
Toyota is also in talks on a partnership with Waymo to enter the robotaxi market, according to the publication. Details of the potential cooperation and its timeline have not yet been disclosed.
