|
 "We are positive that we will get approval for tests on German
motorways within the next weeks," Frankfurter Allgemeine
Sonntagszeitung quoted him as saying. "Then we will start
immediately."
First tests of semi-autonomous trucks will take place in Daimler's
home state Baden-Wuerttemberg while the start of production is 2-3
years away, Bernhard, who is in charge of Daimler's trucks business,
told the paper.
"We are leaders in this technology and will stand up for ourselves,"
Bernhard said, acknowledging that Apple, Google and other companies
were trying to position themselves in the promising business of
autonomous driving.
He said that Daimler was unfazed by moves of companies like Apple to
poach Daimler employees. "That is a clear sign of recognition if
Apple decides that your business - cars - are so important to them
that they want to be part of it."
Google earlier this month began testing its self-driving cars in
Austin, Texas, expanding efforts to gather information on how the
prototypes interact with traffic, road conditions and people. |
Technology groups as well as automotive manufacturers and suppliers
have said the technology to build self-driving cars should be ready
by 2020.
(Reporting by Arno Schuetze; Editing by Ros Russell)
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