PLANO, Texas, April 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagine a
world where vehicles could 'talk' to each other and to the
surrounding environment to help keep their drivers and their
passengers safe.
Toyota and Lexus want to advance that conversation, which is why
the companies plan to start deployment of Dedicated Short-Range
Communications (DSRC) systems on vehicles sold in the United States starting in 2021, with the
goal of adoption across most of its lineup by the mid-2020s. Toyota
and Lexus plans to introduce DSRC represent a significant step
forward in creating a safer and more efficient driving ecosystem
while advancing connected and automated technology deployment.
"By allowing vehicles' intelligent systems to collaborate more
broadly and effectively through DSRC technology, we can help
drivers realize a future with zero fatalities from crashes, better
traffic flow and less congestion," said Jim
Lentz, CEO of Toyota Motor North America (TMNA).
"Three years ago, we pledged to have automatic emergency braking
(AEB) in almost every vehicle we sell by the end of 2017. Today, 92
percent of all Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in the U.S. have
Toyota Safety Sense or Lexus Safety System + with AEB standard, and
other automakers' deployment of this life-saving technology is
accelerating, three years ahead of the 2022 industry target.
In that same spirit, we believe that greater DSRC adoption by all
automakers will not only help drivers get to their destinations
more safely and efficiently, but also help lay the foundation for
future connected and automated driving systems."
DSRC transmissions enable vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and
vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications – collectively known
as V2X. DSRC technology, which has been comprehensively tested
through government-industry collaborations and is already deployed
in some areas of the U.S., supports the broadcast of precise
anonymized vehicle information several times per second, including
location, speed and acceleration. This information can be used by
other DSRC-enabled vehicles and devices to help drivers prevent
collisions. Communication can also be enabled to provide
helpful real-time information to drivers, such as potential
hazards, slow or stopped vehicles ahead, or signals, signs, and
road conditions that may be difficult to see.
DSRC communicates using 7 channels of the 5.9 GHz spectrum band
allocated for Intelligent Transportation Systems. Importantly
for consumers, because the technology does not require a cellular
or data network, vehicles equipped with DSRC do not incur any
cellular network carrier charges. DSRC is based on industry
standards, so Toyota vehicles will be able to communicate with
other automakers' equipped vehicles, multiplying the safety
benefits for all.
Looking ahead, communication-based technologies such as DSRC can
help provide greater benefits to drivers as automakers increasingly
equip vehicles with additional sensors, including radars and
cameras. Communication technologies can be coupled with on-board
sensor technology to help make automated vehicle systems for
customers safer, more reliable and more enjoyable.
In Japan in 2015, Toyota and
Lexus became the world's first automaker to sell and commercialize
vehicles equipped with DSRC. This technology provides drivers with
useful and detailed surrounding vehicle and traffic signal
information. As of March 2018, more
than 100,000 DSRC-equipped Toyota and Lexus vehicles were on the
road in Japan.
Over the past 13 years, Toyota has collaborated with other
automakers, infrastructure organizations and the U.S. Department of
Transportation to develop DSRC V2X communication
technologies. Toyota is now encouraging all automakers and
transportation infrastructure owner/operators to quickly commit to
DSRC technologies in the U.S. to realize the full safety and
traffic flow benefits of this technology.
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in
the U.S. and North America for 60
years and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation
mobility through its Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time,
Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have
contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of
more than 33 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14
manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than
47,000 people (more than 37,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North
American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than 2.7
million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2017 – and
about 87 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15 years
are still on the road today.
At Toyota, we have always been fueled by our appetite to
start the impossible. We believe that when people are free to move,
anything is possible. In that spirit, Toyota partners with
community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to
address our society's most pressing mobility challenges. We share
company resources and our extensive know-how to give people greater
access to jobs, education and opportunity. For more information
about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
Media Contact
Brian Lyons
(469) 292-3573
Brian.lyons@toyota.com
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America