CRI听力:Self Driving Cars Shine at Geneva Motor Show

At this year's Geneva Motor Show, much of the discussion is about the automotive industry's high tech future.

Japanese automaker Nissan is displaying its self-driving model at the show and it is attracting big crowds.

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn says the Qashqai crossover SUV will be equipped with what the company calls "stage one" autonomous driving technology.

"The first step is the one you are seeing here. This is on one lane autonomous drive on the highway. You are on the highway, you are on one lane, you can put your autonomous drive on, and the car drives by itself. In very safe conditions."

Ghosn says that, hopefully by 2020, the car can achieve autonomous driving on city streets.

The Nissan CEO adds that autonomous technology will be included in a range of affordable, mainstream vehicles in the future.

"You know, I think there is a lot of technology coming in the car, that is going to make the car a kind of mobile space, private space. Where you can work, where you can rest, and at the same time transport yourself. All of this is going to be a formidable element for the growth of the industry."

Based on Ghosn's description, in the future you might be able to read a book when the car takes you to work, have a video conference on your way to the gym, or even watch a movie with Virtual Reality glasses.

Analysts like Jim Holder, the editorial director of Autocar magazine, are looking forward to self driving systems that allow drivers to take their eyes off the road.

"I think autonomous cars are coming, just like electrification. Already some of the cars on sale today have semi-autonomous features. You can drive down the motorway and the car will keep itself between the white lines for instance, it will maintain a safe distance from the car in front. And all autonomous driving really is, is an extension of that, where the little bits of your driving life that are done autonomously will become all of it. If you so choose. "

Car companies are determined that they, not tech companies such as Google or Apple, will provide the self-driving technology and make profits from it.

However, some analysts believe that fully autonomous driving technology, which tech companies like Google and Apple are working on, is still some time away.

The Geneva Motor Show will run until next Sunday.

For CRI, this is Huang Shan.