TOKYO -- Major Japanese automakers and autoparts suppliers will join hands in research and development of autonomous driving vehicles to narrow the gap with U.S. and European rivals.
An agreement has been reached among companies that have been participating in a study panel set up by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The group includes six carmakers, including Toyota Motor, Nissan Motor and Honda Motor, as well as such major manufacturers of auto electronics as Denso, Renesas Electronics and Panasonic. They aim to start conducting tests on public roads in 2020.
