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Self-driving tech to add $40k to the cost of your new car

FCA's Chrysler Pacifica fitted with Waymo's self-driving tech

Forget the fantasy that self-driving cars are just around the corner (presumably having parked there itself after dropping you off at your front door), full-autonomous technology is at least five years away. And when the technology does arrive, it could add as much as $40,000 to the cost of your new car.

That’s the word from FCA’s chief technology officer Harald Wester, who issued something of a reality check to those ready to step into a Minority Report future while unveiling the company's five-year plan at an investor day in Italy.

"We expect automotive-grade level-four systems, which means components in line with our standards, becoming available for our customers around 2023. Nevertheless, we will continue to work with the most advanced teams in this space to accelerate those timings, and be in line to be the first to offer this technology," Wester says.

Driverless technology is measured in five distinct levels. Level one means the car can control a single function automatically, like standard cruise control, while level two allows for a driver to temporarily remove their hands and feet from the controls. Level three reduces the driver to an in-case-of-emergency proposition on some roads, with human intervention only required if an accident is imminent. Level four is "eyes off, hands off" motoring, with a car able to complete most trips by itself, while level five is complete autonomy in all situations, from highways to gravel tracks.

Tesla claims to be further along this path than most, with company boss Elon Musk teasing an imminent update to its own autopilot system, including an "on-ramp to off-ramp" function. The Tesla website describes it thus: "Once on the freeway, your Tesla will determine which lane you need to be in and when. In addition to ensuring you reach your intended exit, Autopilot will watch for opportunities to move to a faster lane when you’re caught behind slower traffic. When you reach your exit, your Tesla will depart the freeway, slow down and transition control back to you.”

And while FCA, along with most other manufacturers, is focused on rolling out levels two and three, Wester says levels four and five will be much harder - and more expensive - to attain than people might expect.

Full autonomy requires several areas of tech. Which doesn't come cheap. Full autonomy requires several areas of tech. Which doesn't come cheap.

He says full autonomy requires a vehicle to be fitted with nine radars, seven cameras, five LIDARs, two CPUs to provide the necessary computing power, along with on-board actuators and a high-speed connection. And all that technology, he warns, doesn't come cheap.

"The total system cost for real self-driving will be initially around US$30,000, decreasing though high-volume industrialisation to approximately US$10,000."

In the USA, FCA has partnered with Google's self-driving subsidiary Waymo, and will begin delivery of 62,000 Chrysler Pacifica people-movers later this year to be join the Waymo fleet.

“FCA is committed to bringing self-driving technology to our customers in a manner that is safe, efficient and realistic,” says FCA boss Sergio Marchionne. “Strategic partnerships, such as the one we have with Waymo, will help to drive innovative technology to the forefront.”

Are you ready to take your hands off the wheel? Tell us in the comments below.