Toyota's self-parking car coming soon to US

While we may be stuck waiting until 2008 to see GM's self-driving car, US drivers may soon be able to sit back and let Toyota's Prius do the parking for them, as drivers in the UK and Japan can already do, using a $700 "parking assist" option. With the option, drivers need only sit back and control the speed of the car with the brake pedal while the car takes control of the wheel and maneuvers itself into place. According to Toyota, 70% of the vehicle's owners in Britain have chosen the option. Availability in the US hasn't been announced yet, only that it should arrive "soon." We -- and the owners of cars parked in front of and behind ours -- can't wait.

[Via Slashdot]

[js @ Apr 5th 2006 1:43PM]

how fat and lazy are we getting these days???

[Amnesia @ Apr 5th 2006 1:46PM]

Can it also get out of parking spots by itself?

[yournamehere @ Apr 5th 2006 1:55PM]

Does it warn you if the parking space isn't big enough?

[S P @ Apr 5th 2006 1:55PM]

why is it that we're always among the last markets to get these kinds of innovations? when i go to europe, they always seems to adopt new technologies much faster than we do, and we all know there are tons of products that japan wont even export here, yet they do in europe... are americans that conservative and stodgy? i dont get it.

[S P @ Apr 5th 2006 1:59PM]

oh, and not parking your own car isnt what makes you fat. the triple mocha latte with whipped cream in the cupholder will add some girth to your waist for sure.

[rj @ Apr 5th 2006 2:02PM]

I'm with js; we should all be walking everywhere we go and wearing animal skins from animals we killed with rocks.

[manu @ Apr 5th 2006 2:04PM]

I'm agree with JS.

[Chris @ Apr 5th 2006 2:09PM]

IMO, if you can't parallel park, you shouldn't be given a license. Think of how this would lower our insurance premiums, reduce the number of fatalities (if one can't parallel park they must suck at basic driving) and clean up the environment.

It's a win-win situation...that is unless you can't parallel park your own car, in which case we find another up-side, healthier people. So it really is a win-win-win situation.

[BK @ Apr 5th 2006 2:09PM]

"why is it that we're always among the last markets to get these kinds of innovations? when i go to europe, they always seems to adopt new technologies much faster than we do, and we all know there are tons of products that japan wont even export here, yet they do in europe... are americans that conservative and stodgy? i dont get it."

That's because we're a litigation-happy country, and companies have to think twice before introducing anything. Other countries *e.g., Europe, Japan) don't have this problem (at least not to this extent).

[boss sauce @ Apr 5th 2006 2:14PM]

If the "space too small" indicator comes on, can I dial up the "just shove it in" setting?

[Raymond @ Apr 5th 2006 2:45PM]

I agree with #6, part of your driving exam is being able to parallel park. Part of it shows your ability to judge where objects are and how far your car extends around you.

While Im happy to see this as it might decrease the number of people "tapping" my bumper, I fear it will increase the number of "lane drifters" i see who do not realize they are merging into me on a turn, simply because they cant stay in their own lane.

[DT @ Apr 5th 2006 2:53PM]

This tech will very shortly be available in the US in the 2007 Lexus LS470. My dad is getting the "L" version and is stoked. Should be delivered in June. Gotta hand it to Toyota...they are the in-car tech KINGS. Hybrid, auto-park, distance-regulated cruise control, bluetooth...No one else is even close. (I know that other companies offer many of those things, but not in the way Toyota does, with 3 or so of those features per car). This is why the US auto industry is getting walloped. There's no innovation.

[phantom42 @ Apr 5th 2006 3:09PM]

#9 it's not a requirement everywhere. i grew up in ny where the driving test is pretty strict. when i moved down to florida, a friend of mine asked to borrow my car for her driving test. i accompanied her to the testing place and watched her test. it consisted of driving forward, reverse, making right and left turns and parking in a diagonal spot. that was it. to top it all off, this was all on a closed course.

this is why i often make the joke that florida drivers get their licenses out of cracker jack boxes.

[Kowalski @ Apr 5th 2006 3:11PM]

i, for one welcome our self-parking overlords

[Karel Jansens @ Apr 5th 2006 3:16PM]

I just re-read (actually, read it for the first time) the article about GM's self-driving car and would like to point y'all to this (Italian) website about an interesting experiment that took place ten (!) years ago on the Italian roads:

http://www.argo.ce.unipr.it/ARGO/english/

Just be patient; the server is offline occasionally. And be sure to check out the movies of the experiment (they can be found in the "the Vehicle" section on the left).

Oh yeah, the OS was Linux...

[Ron @ Apr 5th 2006 3:34PM]

I think in regards to the comment about why places like Japan get the latest technology is because companies can easily introduce it in Japan and it will be bought no matter how good or bad it is and turn in some kind of profit. Americans on the other hand always want a product that has best features while having the best value for the money.

[Don @ Apr 5th 2006 3:38PM]

I for one will be happy will these are widely adopted if it means the end of bumper kissing. I'm not sure I'd trust it completely if I had it installed in my car though.

[SRD @ Apr 5th 2006 3:46PM]

To the person that said toyota is ahead of the tech game. I actually think technology wise Mercedes is the king. not saying the are the best cares. but as for cruise control their radar system is better than lexus laser system. and the mercedes new system which is like in gen 3 already is able to completely drive in rush hour trafic stop and go. not to mention their radar system sences when an accident is going to happen and readys the car for impact, readying the air bags then dials 911 with your location. german cars invent the tech. Japs refine it.

[chuck @ Apr 5th 2006 3:49PM]

I confirm with #11, in MA test does not require driver to parallel park to get their license. Which is really stupid. Last year I bought a brand new car and was living in Boston because of school. The first week I brought it to school and park it on the street, someone backup and crack my license plate. Also I have seen many drivers in the city that can't parallel and hit other people cars. This is a good option for those retards that can't parallel. I truely agree with #6, if you can't parallel then you shouldn't be given a license. But not all state require that.. So this is a good solution.

[Emailme @ Apr 5th 2006 3:49PM]

But can it play Doom?

[dj-ronald-mc-donald @ Apr 5th 2006 4:21PM]

To #4

It's because in America we have too many lawyers, companies are afraid to take risks here, in a country that a woman can sue a company because the hot coffee she spilled was hot.

Think about it.

[Echo_ @ Apr 5th 2006 4:51PM]

. I think in regards to the comment about why places like Japan get the latest technology is because companies can easily introduce it in Japan and it will be bought no matter how good or bad it is and turn in some kind of profit. Americans on the other hand always want a product that has best features while having the best value for the money.


thats why americans buy crappy american cars that break in 3 years?

[silly @ Apr 5th 2006 5:01PM]

"(if one can't parallel park they must suck at basic driving)"

That's silly.

Parallel parking requires that you drive closer to cars than at any other time. If you're driving that close to cars on the road, you're seriously dangerous and should have your license permanently revoked.

[andrew @ Apr 5th 2006 6:20PM]

To #20. Way to trot out that old strawman. Go do a little research on it. McDonalds had been warned that they were serving their coffee dangerously hot. The lady got it spilled on her and ended up with 3rd degree burns. All she originally wanted was her medical bills paid. McDonalds wouldn't do that so she sued them and won. Tweleve people who heard all the facts felt that she deserved some money for what they'd done.

[andrew @ Apr 5th 2006 6:22PM]

#20, here's a link if you'd like to do some reading: http://lawandhelp.com/q298-2.htm

[dj-ronald-mc-donald @ Apr 5th 2006 6:30PM]

#24 & 25

That's why it's labeled HOT COFFEE.

[john @ Apr 5th 2006 6:41PM]

Both german and japanese cars are among the best of the best. Technology wise i think the germans are a little more advanced for safety perhaps. The japanese borrow the technology and perhaps make it better and more reliable. We all know Toyota makes the MOST reliable cars. They are number one in efficiency. If i had a choice between a mid-class Lexus and Mercedes, i'd choose the Lexus. If it's high end S class Vs. LS, i'd go for the S class. Lets not even talk about american cars. They are too unreliable to talk about. Escalades pshhh pass. Give me a Lexus/Mercedes please.

[ES @ Apr 5th 2006 7:25PM]

To #24&25

I spilled my coffee less frequent once McD labeled the coffee "HOT" =), why does the U.S. got behind on these kind of technologies ? Blame it on the "sue-happy" person.

[Boomer @ Apr 5th 2006 8:56PM]

"I think in regards to the comment about why places like Japan get the latest technology is because companies can easily introduce it in Japan and it will be bought no matter how good or bad it is"

What... you mean like xbox?

Some people who post on here barely seem to know which way is up.

[Caitlin Abersowl @ Apr 6th 2006 12:15AM]

#15- ARE YOU KIDDING?? Have you noticed how many people buy SUV's? I would hardly say those are a 'good value for the money', but that's just me.

As for the McDonald's discussion, there are just too many sue-happy people out there. It wouldn't be nearly as bad if people weren't awarded multi million dollar awards for inane cases.

[hmm @ Apr 6th 2006 2:28AM]

if an auto park system bugs and causes an accident, whose fault is it? the driver's or the car manufacturer?

[SoopahMan @ Apr 6th 2006 10:23AM]

I'm with JS as well - as much of our daily lives as possible should be wasted on tasks like parking and getting to where we want to go. Screw that Roomba too! What am I gonna do with those hours I used to spend vacuuming? OMG

[Caz @ Apr 7th 2006 4:29AM]

"While Im happy to see this as it might decrease the number of people "tapping" my bumper"

Hehe, well the Prius is a higher-end car, so i guess it uses lasers and a whole set of optical & remote sensors to measure distances.

If this option ever comes to lower-cost cars, though, maybe we will see systems using much simpler touch sensors. They will run programs likes : "IF rear car hit THEN engage Drive. Drive UNTIL front car hit. Engage reverse THEN LOOP"

[daniel @ Apr 7th 2006 5:22AM]

a couple of students at a university in sweden has already modified a Volvo S60 to park itself completely, you can even step out of the vehicle before it parks: http://www.ikp.liu.se/evolve/

[444 @ May 28th 2006 3:41PM]

"... we should all be walking everywhere we go and wearing animal skins from animals we killed with rocks."

awesome. he's right.. we should abandon all technological advances from here on out.

How can so many of you be against technology and be using a computer, online, more than likely with a high-speed connection? what the... ? call me #444

[highmarcs @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:40PM]

I hate to say it but the reason Americans fall behind on tech issues is simply because we tend to be rather backwards, and for some reason, we like it that way.

Americans glamorize and romanticize all things old. We are falling behind as a country in so...many ways because of this. Stem cell research? Not even an issue in any other modern country. S. Korea, Israel, even China are all pressing on with agressive federally funded research in this area that's really pushing the envelope. When the stem cell miracles come, they won't likely be from the U.S..

I'm in music production and I can tell you for a fact, it all revolves around cutting edge software, and 90% of this software is from Germany, Sweden, England, etc., even a great majority of the freeware is developed by Europeans. We just don't seem to have people who are capable, interested, or educated enough.

For goodness sakes, even South Africa, land of Apartheid, is about to legalize gay marriage!...Yes...a nation in AFRICA is now MORE PROGRESSIVE and forward thinking than America! Does that embarrass anyone else?

Americans seem to want to wallow in the past. We even elected a president to wallow in the past. Vote for traditional values reads "old values". The bloom is quickly falling off the American rose. Hopefully, when my children are grown and need a job, immigration to one of the more progressive and advanced countries won't be too difficult.

It seems as if there is no spirit in the U.S. for breaking the mold, upsetting the apple cart, doing anything in a radically different way.

When Toyota announced plans for a Hybrid, U.S. businesses scoffed, and now are desperately trying to play catch up with technology they have to license from abroad. Who would ever buy an American hybrid? They haven't even mastered regular internal combustion technology. Hell, they haven't even mastered simple door locks and switches and seat fabric. My last and I do mean last U.S. made car had the absolute most mundane, stupid things breaking within the second year of ownership. I just kept asking the people at the Saturn dealership where I bought it new, "you mean to tell me G.M. doesn't know how to make door locks by 1996"?

Hopefully the next generation won't equate stodginess with some sort of noble trait. Unfortunately for "The Big Two" less and less Americans are willing to buy crap as part of their patriotic duty. That's one sign of progress I guess.

[Los Angeles Orange County Toyota @ Aug 25th 2006 7:09PM]

I think the only time I would even think about using this feature on any car was if I had a stiff neck. That's the only time I think I've ever had some trouble parallel parking. I'd rather see toyota or honda for that matter invest those funds into solar panels that would charge up my batteries while I'm at work all day.

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