NissanNissanJapan, 1932 > present159 models
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has announced that its goal is to have affordable, autonomous cars on sale by 2020, but VolkswagenVolkswagenGermany, 1938 > present98 models
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is staking its claim and touting its own driver assistance systems.

Volkswagen calls its assistance systems “Vision Zero,” and it aims to reducing traffic fatalities and accidents through advanced technology. They include technology like parking assistance, improving the distance of driver perception, improving general safety and assisting drivers during challenging situations.

The major innovation from Volkswagen was its automatic emergency braking system that is now expanding to other automakers. The system allows the car to come to a stop automatically if pedestrians or other obstructions are detected at medium to low speeds. The next step is adding steering control that can also evade dangerous situations.

Among the upcoming technologies is Volkswagen’s third generation Park Assist that allows for remote control parking. The tech allows for the car to park itself without a driver in the car. When drivers want to leave, they activate a wireless remote control, and the car leaves the space. When it is finished, it sets the parking brake and puts the transmission in park.

Another new technology is the second generation of Area View that also helps with parking or off-road driving. The system works at a higher resolution and can detect more obstacles. The driver can select from a front, rear, side or bird’s eye view at speeds up to 15km/h. It recognizes obstacles by using the ultrasonic parking sensors.

The second generation of Around View and third generation Park Assist also work together with cars with trailers. When the driver puts the car in reverse, the driver selects where the trailer should go on the infotainment screen, and the car does everything to put it there.

Further in the future, VW is working on Car-to-x technology that allows cars to communicate with each other and with the road. The technology uses WLAN tech so that cars can network together and share data about hazards ahead.

Car-to-car technology will likely be the first to be implemented because any car with the technology will be able to communicate. As it becomes more common, car-to-infrastructure communication will likely be widely introduced.

VW does not have the automated car 2020 mandate that Nissan has, but it is still pushing the technology forward.