Japan plans a new system for cars that almost drive themselves

Japan's transport ministry^*1, the part of the Japanese government that looks after roads and transport, has a new plan for cars that almost drive themselves. These cars are called Level 2++^*2 cars. The ministry wants to start an approval system^*3 for the best Level 2++ cars. The plan appears in the ministry's papers for next year's budget^*4.

A Level 2++ car can do most of the driving. The driver almost never has to use the wheel or the pedals. The car can drive well even on busy and difficult roads. But the driver must still watch the road and the cars around them.

The first Level 2++ cars made in Japan will go on sale in fiscal year^*5 2027. One example is a car from Nissan, a Japanese car company. It uses AI^*6 from Wayve, a company in Britain. Nissan plans to sell this car in fiscal year 2027.

The ministry wants many kinds of Level 2++ cars, including commercial vehicles^*7, to be built and sold. It also wants more people to know about these cars and feel happy to use them. The ministry says Level 2++ cars are a step toward Level 4^*8 cars in the future.

The ministry plans two things. First, it will create the approval system for good Level 2++ cars. Second, it wants public transport^*9, such as buses and ride-share^*10 services, to start using these cars early.

1. *1 ministry: a big office of the government that does one kind of work
2. *2 Level 2++: a kind of car that does most of the driving by itself, but the driver must still watch the road
3. *3 approval system: a way for the government to check things and say which ones are good
4. *4 budget: the government's plan for how to spend its money
5. *5 fiscal year: a year used for government money. In Japan it starts in April and ends in March
6. *6 AI: computer programs that can learn and make choices, a bit like a person
7. *7 commercial vehicles: cars and trucks used for business, like delivery trucks or buses
8. *8 Level 4: a higher level than Level 2++, where the car does even more of the driving
9. *9 public transport: buses and trains that anyone can pay to ride
10. *10 ride-share: a service where you use a phone to ask for a car to come and drive you somewhere