Subaru Says Its New AI Tech Will Reduce Accidents, Not Be Self-Driving Like Tesla

Subaru doesn't follow the crowd. They do things differently than other automakers like Tesla regarding safety and self-driving technology. This week, Subaru Corporation announced what's coming to the 2025 Subaru Forester, Outback, Crosstrek, Ascent, and other next-generation models.

A recent report from Automotive News says Subaru is now developing a new artificial intelligence (AI) for its EyeSight safety technology. At a press briefing this week, the automaker made a surprise statement when Subaru announced it had just sold its five millionth vehicle with EyeSight safety technology. It concerns the driver assist system and what's coming in three years to the 2025 Subaru Forester, Outback, Crosstrek, Ascent, and other new models.

Torque News reported Subaru Corporation would open an AI development base called "Subaru Lab" in December 2020. The Subaru Lab is led by Director Eiji Shibata, who will lead the team in creating the next-generation Subaru Forester and other models with AI technology. Subaru's goal is to reduce accidents in its 2025 Subaru Forester and other new models, and the automaker also has a plan of zero fatal accidents by 2030.

New technology is coming by 2025

Subaru will accomplish the ambitious goal with the next-generation EyeSight X technology. Shibata says the automaker's new 2025 Forester, Outback, Crosstrek, Ascent, and other models will feature something no automaker will have; a "non-collision car" with the development of the new generation EyeSight safety technology.

Subaru's technology will reduce accidents but won't be self-driving

The Automotive News report says at the press briefing this week that Shibata did not specify what level future EyeSight systems will achieve. But he said Subaru would focus more on reducing accidents and fatalities than pursuing self-driving cars like Tesla.

"Subaru's approach is reducing traffic accident fatalities to zero as soon as possible rather than focusing on autonomous driving," Shibata said. And unlike many competitors, Shibata said Subaru is in no rush to adopt Lidar sensors for its safety systems.

Better recognition in hard-to-see situations

Subaru's technology introduced in 2025 model vehicles will use artificial intelligence in the new EyeSight stereo cameras to improve computer recognition in hard-to-see situations, such as when road lane markers are covered in snow.

Auto-parking

The report says Subaru Corporation is also working on a new auto-parking feature. "According to statistics, accidents in parking lots account for one-third of all traffic accidents," Shibata said. "So, our stance is to focus first on auto parking in the area of autonomous driving in 2025 and beyond."

Today, EyeSight is now available across the Subaru of America model lineup. Subaru's EyeSight-equipped models account for about 91 percent of Subaru's global sales and 96 percent in the U.S., its largest market.

The Subaru Lab, which opened in December 2020, is ramping up its operations in the company's long-term ambition to achieve zero road fatalities by 2030. Further evolution of EyeSight is a critical brand differentiator for Subaru, Shibata said.

Subaru customers can expect the 2025 Subaru Forester, Outback, Crosstrek, Ascent, and other next-generation models to have another level of AI safety technology to reduce accidents.