---
title: "Honda Cleared to Begin Selling First Level 3 Autonomous Cars"
description: "Honda just became the first automaker to be awarded clearance to sell Level 3 autonomous vehicles, which it plans to do in Japan this year."
date: "2020-11-11"
modified: "2020-11-11"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/honda-cleared-begin-selling-first-level-3-autonomous-cars"
categories:
  - "Advanced Transport"
  - "Self-Driving Vehicles"
tags:
  - "Autonomous vehicles"
  - "honda"
  - "the digest"
  - "transportation"
---

# Honda Cleared to Begin Selling First Level 3 Autonomous Cars

![Honda just became the first automaker to be awarded clearance to sell Level 3 autonomous vehicles, which it plans to do in Japan this year.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/honda-cleared-begin-selling-first-level-3-autonomous-cars.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Honda\</em\>*

## Level Up

Honda just became the first automaker granted approval by Japanese authorities to sell Level 3 autonomous cars — a jump forward that the car company says is a world first.

The company plans to begin selling the partially-autonomous Honda Legend in Japan before the end of the year, [according to *Agence France-Presse*](<https://techxplore.com/news/2020-11-honda-world-first-autonomous-car.html>). At that point, Honda says it will have the most advanced self-driving tech that's available for purchase.

## Mid-Range

Autonomous vehicles are graded from Level 0, which is a normal, human-operated car, to Level 5. At Level 5, a vehicle would be totally autonomous and wouldn't have any use for pedals, a steering wheel, or even a dedicated driver's seat.

At what Japan is calling Level 3, the Honda Legend can steer, accelerate, and, in the detail that sets it apart from Level 2 vehicles, respond to some specific scenarios like deciding to swerve around and pass a slow-moving obstacle, according to a [breakdown by *Synopsis*](<https://www.synopsys.com/automotive/autonomous-driving-levels.html>). Audi developed the same technological capabilities for its 2019 Audi A8L, but [*Automotive News Europe* reports](<https://europe.autonews.com/automakers/audi-quits-bid-give-a8-level-3-autonomy>) that regulatory delays led Audi to scrap the project, staying instead at Level 2. Other companies, like Waymo, claim to have [surpassed Level 3](<https://futurism.com/waymo-ditches-safety-drivers-self-driving-taxis>), but don't sell the cars to consumers.

## Still Counts

So, while Honda's victory in the race to Level 3 is partially defined by technicalities, it still represents a major step forward for the industry, as it actually gets the new technology in drivers' hands.

"It's a world-first for an automaker to receive \[Level 3\] type designation," a Honda spokesperson told *AFP*.

**READ MORE:** [Honda wins world-first approval for Level 3 autonomous car](<https://techxplore.com/news/2020-11-honda-world-first-autonomous-car.html>) \[*Agence France-Presse*\]

**More on autonomous vehicles:** *[Waymo Ditches Human Safety Drivers in Its Self-Driving Taxis](<https://futurism.com/waymo-ditches-safety-drivers-self-driving-taxis>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)