Honda Releases First Certified Level 3 Autonomous Vehicle for $102,000
Honda unveils a limited lease of 100 Legend sedans equipped with the world's first government-certified Level 3 autonomous driving system. The vehicle operates hands-free in congested highway traffic after undergoing extensive testing and simulation.
Honda releases a limited run of 100 Legend sedans featuring the world’s first government-certified Level 3 autonomous driving system. Priced at 11 million yen ($102,000), these vehicles are available exclusively through leasing in Japan. The certified Traffic Jam Pilot system allows drivers to take a completely hands-off approach while navigating congested expressway traffic at speeds under 50 kilometers per hour.
Similar to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving suite, the Honda system automatically handles acceleration, braking, and steering. However, Honda diverges from Tesla’s camera-only strategy by relying on high-definition maps and external sensors. The Japanese automaker exercises extreme caution with this rollout, setting operational speed limits lower than legally permitted and completing over 800,000 miles of real-world highway testing alongside 10 million simulated scenarios.
Honda engineers design the Level 3 system to reduce driver fatigue and minimize human error during stressful traffic situations. The vehicle also includes Level 2 driving assistance features for lane following and lane changes that compare directly to Tesla's Autopilot. Ultimately, Honda views this flagship release as a major step forward in its overall driver assistance technology strategy.