Vehicles with no mirrors are currently in the developing phase among automobile and parts makers in Japan, with monitors and cameras placed where these mirrors used to be. This comes right after the ban on making vehicles of this type has been lifted by Japan's Ministry on Land, Infrastructure, and Transport in July.
Despite the start of the selling anticipated to be in 2018, the major holdovers, such as issues with safety and other production aspects have not yet been resolved. Mirrorless cars make use of a combination of cameras and monitors, instead of the familiar side mirrors to ensure safe driving conditions.
Instead of placing a mirror for rear view, a monitor is installed, which displays images from a camera installed at the vehicle's back. Not having side mirrors in the car is expected to reduce fuel consumption, and allow the car to have less wind resistance.
Furthermore, the cameras, which will be equipped with processing software could help give drivers a better view in days of bad weather, and at times of low visibility. Large-scale manufacturers are already taking steps towards the development of this particular technology.
One of these companies is Valeo, a firm based in France, which aims to begin the mass production of cars of this type in 2018. Murakami Corporation is also developing a system for the monitors and cameras to be used in these vehicles.
Prototype cards have already been unveiled by car giants, Nissan and Toyota, with them currently in talks as to how to apply their concepts the practical way. They are putting into consideration as to how to make the adjustment process easier to drivers, majority of which have already been accustomed to using mirrors.
Furthermore, representatives at Valeo believe that they have to find ways to still encourage safe driving. One car manufacturer is also thinking about adding a function to its cars, which would enable vehicles to move faster if the vehicle behind it would be close enough to be headed for a back-end collision.
It is, however, believed that this upgrade from mirrors to cameras and monitors would increase the price of the average car by more or less 100,000 yen.
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