What's the news?
Renault-Nissan is jumping on the autonomous cars bandwagon by announcing it will launch more than ten vehicles with self-driving technology between now and 2020.
Instead of promising a single, autonomous car, the alliance - representing the fourth largest car group in the world - has alternatively promised that these technologies will be seen on a wide range of 'mainstream, mass-market cars at affordable prices'.
The models will be sold in Europe, the US, Japan and China, with the first gadgets coming on stream this year. Among this vanguard will be Single-Lane Control, which allows cars to drive themselves on main roads, including in heavy, stop-and-go traffic. Renault-Nissan will also bring out the first 'Alliance Multimedia System', providing new media and satnav software, before we reach 2017.
Developing from these, in 2018 we'll see Multiple-Lane Control, which can negotiate hazards and change lanes on motorways, with Intersection Autonomy coming in 2020 - this sees the Renaults, Nissans and all vehicles in the group able to navigate city junctions and the worst sort of traffic conditions without any driver intervention whatsoever.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance says all of its autonomous tech features will be capable of being overridden or switched off if the driver wishes.
Anything else?
"Renault-Nissan Alliance is deeply committed to the twin goals of 'zero emissions and zero fatalities'," said the group's chairman and CEO, Carlos Ghosn. "That's why we are developing autonomous driving and connectivity for mass-market, mainstream vehicles on three continents."