Nissan not changing autonomous drive tests over Uber crash

Nissan’s Easy Ride robo-vehicle is put to the test in Yokohama. (AP Photo)

YOKOHAMA: Nissan’s chief planning officer says the Japanese automaker does not plan to change its road tests for self-driving vehicles after the recent fatal accident of an Uber autonomous vehicle.
Some fear a setback for the technology after a pedestrian was killed Sunday night in a crash involving a self-driving Uber SUV in the US, the first death involving a full autonomous test vehicle.
Philippe Klein, Nissan’s COO, said the automaker is ensuring its tests are safe. He said specially trained drivers always keep their hands on the steering wheels of such vehicles.
Nissan has been conducting autonomous driving tests in London, Tokyo and California. The company, which has an alliance with Renault SA of France and Mitsubishi Motors Corp., is among the most aggressive among automakers on semi-autonomous-drive technology.