豐田的一位銷售高管鮑勃?卡特稱，在豐田看來，這些系統(tǒng)最終將裝備更多主流車型，并對能耗和交通擁堵產(chǎn)生積極影響，因?yàn)椤巴ＭＷ咦叩拈_法”將因此而不復(fù)存在。

豐田密歇根研發(fā)中心正在開發(fā)的另一項(xiàng)技術(shù)是車車通訊，以及與停車信號燈和其他交通指示燈進(jìn)行通訊的技術(shù)。車輛可在編程后避免相撞，或不再同時抵達(dá)某個路口。它們還能向鄰近車輛發(fā)出有冰雪或其他危險情況的警告。

豐田將自己定位為自動駕駛領(lǐng)域的領(lǐng)軍企業(yè)——這并不意味著福特（Ford），通用汽車（General Motors），日產(chǎn)（Nissan）及其他廠商對這項(xiàng)技術(shù)沒有興趣，也不意味著它們不擅此道。其他廠商可能比較低調(diào)，不愿拋頭露面，寧可等到消費(fèi)者和監(jiān)管層的態(tài)度更明朗時再做打算。

但就像豐田1998年推出首款油電混動普銳斯（Prius）的經(jīng)歷所揭示的那樣，突破性技術(shù)要獲得廣泛認(rèn)可需要足夠的時間；也需要耐心和愿意大筆砸錢的態(tài)度。目睹普銳斯在全球獲得巨大成功的人都不應(yīng)無視豐田在這輛家用產(chǎn)品上首開紀(jì)錄的不懈努力，而它一度被很多人認(rèn)為沒什么前途。（財富中文網(wǎng)）

譯者：清遠(yuǎn)

Toyota sees the systems eventually equipping more mainstream models and having a positive impact on energy consumption and traffic congestion because "start and stop driving" can be eliminated, said Bob Carter, a Toyota sales executive.

Another technology being explored in Toyota's research center in Michigan is car-to-car communication, as well as communication with stop lights and other types of traffic signals. Cars can be programmed to avoid colliding with one another or to avoid arriving simultaneously at an intersection. They can warn nearby cars of ice or other hazardous conditions.

Toyota has positioned itself among the leaders in the field of autonomous driving—which doesn't mean that Ford (F), General Motors (GM), Nissan (NSANY) and others aren't interested or skilled in the technology. Others may be reserving publicity until the sentiments of consumers and regulators are more clear.

But as Toyota demonstrated with the introduction in 1998 of its first Prius, featuring gas-hybrid propulsion, the widespread acceptance of a groundbreaking technology takes time; it also requires patience and the willingness to spend capital prodigiously.No one who looks at the global success of the Prius should fail to consider Toyota's first homely iteration, which seemed like an improbability to so many.