Driverless Cars Set To Enter India — Can Google Survive The Traffic Jams?

Google will help change the experience of car ownership, which means safer roads with fewer accidents.

By Promeet

Updated: Monday, February 27, 2017, 12:58 [IST]

A lot of tech and automobile manufacturers are working to lay their foundations of the future of the automotive industry by developing self-driving electric vehicles (EVs).

India Soon To See Autonomous Cars Hit The Tarmac — Thanks To Google

Our country also could soon see autonomous cars on its roads as proposed improvements to the motor vehicles law will allow the government to permit the testing of such vehicles. Such self-driving cars are being developed by companies such as Google, Tesla, and Uber.

A top roads ministry official also stated that the government will allow the testing of these vehicles on a case-by-case basis. This will happen only once the law is in place.

The autonomous cars will help the Domestic carmakers and technology firms to join the global race in developing these vehicles. Reportedly, Tata Elxsi, the Tata Group's design, and technology firm, has been planning to test driverless cars.

A clause in the amendment states, "In order to promote innovation and research and development in the fields of vehicular engineering, mechanically propelled vehicles and transportation in general, the central government may exempt certain types of mechanically propelled vehicles from the application of the provisions of this Act."

The Bill, introduced in Parliament in August last year, has since been referred to a parliamentary standing committee. On the other hand, some official stated that once cleared, any innovation in transport sectors such as semi-autonomous and fully autonomous vehicles, both passenger and commercial, could be tested in India.

Abdul Majeed, a partner at PWC, said, "Maybe in future, semi-autonomous or autonomous technology can find applications on a limited scale in the farm sector or on fixed routes in the public transportation space. There will not be regulatory hurdles in those instances."

Thes auto and tech companies are already testing their cars on the roads. Moreover, Google has accused Uber of stealing technology that they are using in the vehicles.

Google also has plans to make autonomous vehicles commercially available by 2020-21. This initiative by Google will help change the experience of car ownership, which means safer roads with fewer accidents. Stay tuned for more information