12. Self-Parking Cars Hit the Market Early
One of the first widely available ‘self-driving’ features was automated parking, which debuted as early as 2003 in Japan’s Toyota Prius. This technology paved the way for more advanced hands-free innovations (japantimes.co.jp). The Intelligent Parking Assist System (IPAS) in the 2003 Prius utilized sensors and cameras to detect suitable parking spaces. Once a space was identified, the system could automatically steer the vehicle into the spot, requiring minimal input from the driver. This early adoption of self-parking technology marked a significant step toward integrating autonomous features into consumer vehicles, setting the stage for the more sophisticated systems available today. For a visual demonstration of the Toyota Prius self-parking feature, you can watch the following video: Toyota Prius Self-Parking Feature
