Honda’s Helm.ai Will Make Cars Driverless

A California-based AI tech startup company, Helm.ai, collaborated with Honda Motors to introduce a low-cost self-driving AI system called Helm.ai Vision in Honda’s upcoming Zero series EV cars.

Imagine a car that lets you take your hands off the wheel and your eyes off the road — all without using expensive sensors. Sounds futuristic? Well, Honda is bringing that future closer with Helm.ai Vision.

According to Reuters, other investors like Goodyear Ventures, Korea’s Sungwoo HiTech, and VC firm Amplo invested $102 million in Helm.ai. The tech company plans to sell the licence for Helm.ai Vision software to other interested automakers to integrate it into their self-driving systems. So while Honda is the first confirmed adopter, Helm.ai is eyeing partnerships with other carmakers too.

Honda’s 2026 Zero series electric vehicles (EVs), which include a sedan and an SUV, are going to see this tech for the first time. These EVs are expected to launch in North America, Japan, and Europe.

Many new cars in India — like the Mahindra XUV700, MG Astor, Tata Safari, and Hyundai Tucson — now offer ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), which is a mix of camera and radar for lane assist, adaptive cruise control, and emergency braking. But it doesn’t let the driver take their hands off the steering wheel or eyes off the road.

But the question is whether a camera-based self-driving AI driving assistant is safe or not.

Helm.ai Vision is a camera-only system, which relies just on vision—just like how humans drive using their eyes. It is cheaper as well. However, the system may struggle in conditions such as fog, rain, poor lighting, or on muddy roads.

But Helm claims that it is smart enough to handle most driving situations just like a human would. Still, a mix of sensors would offer more security. Just like the self-driving systems in Waymo or Mercedes that use multiple sensors to act as a backup. If a camera fails, radar or lidar can still keep the car safe.

The 2026 Honda Zero EV’s expected price is $50,000 (₹40–42 lakh) internationally. But if it launches in India, taxes and import duties could push the price up to ₹70 lakh or more.

Helm.ai and Honda are trying to make self-driving cheaper by removing expensive hardware like radar and lidar by relying on smart AI software. If it works, it could change the global car industry—and give Indian automakers a cost-effective way to bring smarter driving features to the masses.

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The content presented in this article is derived from publicly available sources, speculative media reports, and unofficial information. No official statement, specification, or confirmation has been released by the manufacturer at the time of publication. This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as factual or final. Readers are advised to consult official communications and verified announcements from the manufacturer for accurate and up-to-date details. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any decisions made based on the information herein.