If you’ve been keeping up with market predictions about when a fully approved SAE level 3 automated vehicle would hit the market and which automaker would be first to do it, you might have been surprised at last week’s announcement from Honda.

Following approval by the Japanese government of its “Traffic Jam Pilot” system, Honda became the first carmaker to sell a vehicle equipped with certified level 3 self-driving technology. That means the automated driving system can drive the vehicle instead of the driver under certain conditions, such as when the vehicle is in congested traffic on an expressway.

Level 3 vehicles, also known as conditional driving automation vehicles, have “environmental detection” capabilities. As a result, drivers are able to engage in activities behind the wheel, such as using smartphones, under limited conditions while their car accelerates past a slow-moving vehicle or otherwise navigates expressway traffic.

For more information visit https://www.electronicdesign.com/markets/automotive/article/21158656/electronic-design-worlds-first-level-3-selfdriving-production-car-now-available-in-japan