Lexus Exec: Autonomous Vehicles Are Still Five Years Away
The driverless car revolution is still a long way down the road.
That’s according to Jeff Bracken, Group Vice President at Lexus, who told Cheddar that autonomous vehicles won’t take over the industry for another “five or 10 years.”
But when we get there, he said, there “will be huge safety benefits.”
His comments come in light of Uber’s fatal driverless car crash last week, which has left the industry reeling. Late Wednesday, a top exec at the company’s autonomous unit reportedly stepped down.
Meanwhile Lexus unveiled its new UX model at the New York International Auto Show earlier in the day. It will be the company’s first car fitted with Amazon’s Alexa system. Other features include a “predictive efficient driver.”
“This vehicle, from a technology standpoint, will get to know you,” explained Bracken.
“So if the vehicle recognizes it’s on a similar route and you’re going up a hill [for example], it will actually move into the electric motor mode so that it saves the gas.”
The carmaker hopes this model will attract millennials and is even considering offering a subscription-style financing model to do that.
Though still in planning phases, Bracken revealed that the subscription could include things like “maintenance on the vehicle.”
The new UX model is scheduled to hit dealerships in December.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/lexus-unveils-a-new-compact-crossover-for-the-urban-explorer).
Orangetheory Brand President Lauren Cody on the fitness industry's shift from chasing aesthetics to prioritizing longevity and measurable health and wellness.
Peachtree Group CEO Greg Friedman breaks down the Fed's rate decision and the Senate's housing affordability bill and what it means for commercial real estate.
Nodi is giving kids a safe way to stay connected before they're ready for a smartphone. CEO Pascal Leonard Blum breaks down how the device works for families.
From coast to coast, gas prices are telling different stories. AAA's Aixa Diaz explains what's behind the numbers and what it means for American drivers.
AutoStore’s CPO Parth Joshi explains its new AI software layer designed to optimize warehouse robots in real time and unlock smarter, more efficient fulfillment