Audi tries hand at self-driving cars

WASHINGTON – Anyone who hates driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic and searching for a parking space will like one automaker’s project.

Audi is now testing self-driving cars in Nevada. Google was the first company to get permits to do it in that state.

Instead of working on totally driverless cars, the German automaker and others are looking at ways to introduce the technology to consumers in stages, according to CNET.

At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, Audi showed off a “traffic assist” feature that lets drivers take their hands off the wheel and feet off the gas. The car then drives itself in a highway traffic jam going less than 40 mph.

Also, Audi is testing a navigation system intended to lead drivers not only to their destination, but to an open parking space near that destination as well.

The system relies, in part, on information from parking space sensors that are available in some cities.

Audi isn’t saying how soon these features might show up in its cars.

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