Volkswagen exec admits full self-driving cars 'may never happen' (thedrive.com)

Article summary

A Volkswagen executive has stated that fully self-driving cars, also known as Level 5 autonomy, may never happen due to the complexity of the problem. The executive, Alex Hitzinger, compared achieving Level 5 autonomy to going to Mars, emphasizing the difficulty of the task. Volkswagen is instead focusing on achieving Level 4 autonomy, which would allow for autonomous driving in certain conditions. The company plans to implement this technology in its upcoming I.D. Buzz electric van.

Main themes

• autonomous driving
• Level 5 autonomy
• self-driving cars
• infrastructure
• technological challenges
• investment and cost

What commenters say

• Some commenters believe that achieving Level 5 autonomy is too difficult and may never happen, while others think it's just a matter of time and investment.
• The comparison to going to Mars is seen as unfair by some, who argue that there is more economic benefit to self-driving cars.
• Others argue that even if Level 5 autonomy is not achieved, significant progress can still be made in autonomous driving, such as reaching Level 4 autonomy.
• Some commenters think that the focus should be on making the road infrastructure smarter, rather than relying solely on the car's technology.
• There is disagreement on whether the technology to go to Mars already exists, with some arguing that it's a matter of cost and others saying that there are still significant technical challenges to overcome.
• The idea of self-driving cars is seen as more feasible than supersonic travel or other futuristic technologies that have not yet materialized.
• Some commenters are skeptical of the idea that self-driving cars will become a reality anytime soon, citing the lack of progress and the complexity of the problem.