PriceProtect™
DriveShield™
GarageGuard™
Services
Insurance
Car Insurance
Compare Car Insurance with Jerry
Jerry’s Expert Advice
Car Insurance Estimates
Home & Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance
Loans
Car Loan
Compare Car Loans with Jerry
Jerry's Expert Advice
Car Loan Guides
Repairs
Car Repair Estimates
Repair Estimates for Popular Services
Advice
Read Car Content
Browse Jerry Car Advice
Check Out Expert Car QnA
Learn About How We Create Content
Jerry Data & Research
How long have self-driving cars been on the road?
I’ve been super stoked to buy a Tesla ever since I saw a demo of its self-driving technology. While I thought Tesla pioneered this technology, my friend told me that self-driving cars have been around for a while. How long have autonomous cars been on the road?
Marcos Lussio · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
You’re both right to some degree. While
Tesla
has manufactured self-driving cars that are readily available to the public, the first self-driving cars were on the road as early as 1939. In 1939, General Motors developed a magnetized and remote-controlled self-driving car for the 1939 World’s Fair. While this technology was in its infancy, it paved the way for future advancements in autonomous vehicles.
From 1940 to 2000, most self-driving cars were projects unavailable to the public. So technically speaking, these cars weren’t on the road. But since then, major automakers rolled out self-driving cars in a limited capacity with the unveiling of self-parking or park-assist features.
The very first fully autonomous vehicle was released in 2014 by Induct Technology. Known as the Navia, this self-driving vehicle was designed as a fully autonomous commercial car produced for guided tours.
Today, several companies offer semi-autonomous cars that anyone can purchase—like Tesla. Vehicles that are completely self-driving probably won’t hit the road until sometime between 2026 and 2030, though.
The legal and technological hurdles presented by fully autonomous cars remain a barrier to entry. However, many automakers are indeed working toward the next level of automation.
Whatever type of car you drive now or in the future, go to
Jerry
to find great car insurance coverage—without overpaying for it.Jerry is a licensed insurance broker that will collect quotes from over 50 top-rated insurers in minutes. After you find a great rate, Jerry can help you buy new insurance and cancel your old policy. Users save an average of $887 per year.
View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance
You Might Also Be Interested
Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry
What Others Are Asking
Browse More Content
Insurance in Your State
Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance
No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls
Quotes from top insurance companies
