A brave new road

A Google self-driving car is on exhibit at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.[Photo/Agencies]

Self-driving cars are turning heads at car shows, but don't expect them to be available at your local dealership anytime soon.

In 20 years, the experience of driving a car could be a lot like riding on a plane. There won't be any need to look at the road, as "self-driving" vehicles usher you to the office while you scroll through your iPad. This is the rosy future that many traditional car manufacturers are describing today. Google's version of the driverless car doesn't even have a steering wheel. That's an exception though, as most driverless cars being developed have steering wheels and allow people to take control of the car whenever they want to.

Driverless cars were the highlight of the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month. Almost every major auto brand, including Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Ford and Nissan, showcased their prototypes - or ambitious plans - for the autonomous vehicles.

Ten years ago, the US began holding driverless-car competitions. Initially, the competitions were held in deserts and there were no passengers or rules, only a destination 240 kilometers away. None of the cars was able to complete the route.

But over time, the technology has developed to a point that driverless cars can now drive through cities without making any mistakes. Dieter Zetsche, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz, calls autonomous cars "the hottest next wave" in the auto industry. US market study institute Lux Research predicts that up to 120 million self-driving cars will be sold worldwide in 2030, with China making up 35 percent of the market.