Google gets first self-driven car license in Nevada

San Francisco, May 8: Google's self-driven cars will soon be appearing on Nevada roads after the state's Department of Motor Vehicles approved on Monday the nation's first autonomous vehicle license. The move came after officials rode along on drives on highways, in Carson City neighborhoods and along the famous Las Vegas Strip, the Nevada DMV said in a statement.

The Nevada legislature last year authorized self-driven cars for the state's roads, the first such law in the United States. That law went into effect on March 1, 2012.

Google's self-driven cars rely on video cameras, radar sensors, lasers, and a database of information collected from manually driven cars to help navigate, according to the company.

The DMV licensed a Toyota Prius that Google modified with its experimental driver-less technology, developed by Stanford professor and Google Vice President Sebastian Thrun.

Google's self-driving cars have crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and driven along the picturesque Pacific Coast Highway, according to the company.

Autonomous vehicles are the "car of the future," Nevada DMV director Bruce Breslow said in a statement. The state also has plans to eventually license autonomous vehicles owned by the members of the public, the DMV said.

Legislation to regulate autonomous cars is being considered in other states, including Google's home state of California.

"The vast majority of vehicle accidents are due to human error. Through the use of computers, sensors and other systems, an autonomous vehicle is capable of analyzing the driving environment more quickly and operating the vehicle more safely," California state Senator Alex Padilla said in March when he introduced that state's autonomous car legislation.

Other car companies are also seeking self-driven car licenses in Nevada, the DMV said.

Maruti launches Ertiga at Rs 5.89 lakh

NEW DELHI, April 12: Maruti Suzuki has launched its 14th model in the domestic market, the Ertiga MPV. Prices start at Rs 5.89 lakh for the base petrol variant, going up to Rs 8.45 lakh for the top diesel model.

Developed by parent Suzuki in Japan and Maruti’s own research division, the seven-seater Ertiga is first being launched in India, followed by other South-East Asian markets.

Tagged as the Life Utility Vehicle, the Ertiga is based on the new Swift hatchback platform. It hopes to open a new segment, being priced lower than conventional MPVs such as the Mahindra Xylo and Toyota Innova and promising the drivability of a sedan.

It targets the urban customer with large families, looking for a medium-sized vehicle which is easy to drive and economical to maintain.

Mr Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director and CEO, said: “Ertiga is a major step forward for Maruti Suzuki. Many urban families in India are now looking for a vehicle that offers more space and flexibility than a sedan, without being bulky, bland and expensive like a utility vehicle. These families are currently having to compromise, and settle for a vehicle which does not meet their lifestyle needs.’’

MPVs have emerged the fastest growing sub-segment among Utility Vehicles, showing a growth of around 20 per cent (3-year CAGR), the company said. MPVs account for around 10 per cent share of the Indian automobile industry.

Maruti has invested Rs 410 crore on the MPV, which will introduce in India Suzuki’s the K14B 1.4 litre petrol engine for the first time. The diesel Ertiga variant sports the 1.3 litre high-power DDiS engine, which is licensed from Fiat and also seen in the SX4.

The company claims fuel efficiency of 16.02 kmpl for the petrol and 20.77 kmpl for the diesel version. It is available in a choice of seven colours, and also offers safety features such ABS and front airbags.