Nissan announced it will make automatic braking a standard feature on all production cars in Japan by this fall, kicking things off with the X-Trail Hybrid that was unveiled today and is scheduled to go on sale in mid-May. Availability in other markets has yet to be specified.
Of course, such safety features are a step towards developing self-driving cars, which Nissan will begin rolling out in Japan next year as part of phase one of its plan.
Other manufacturers are considering similar strategies, mind you. For instance, Toyota's radar sensors and cameras that automatically brake the car in the event of an imminent collision and prevent it from drifting out of its lane will be offered either as an option or standard feature on nearly all passenger cars in Japan, North America, and Europe by the end of 2017.