In an interview with the newspaper, Andy Palmer, executive vice-president, said: ‘We’re making a pledge that we will bring the first autonomous car to market by 2020.

‘2020 is the first time that we will have a car that behaves like the cars we have on the track here in California, which means you can sit in the driver’s seat, fold your arms, cross your legs and basically the car will take you where you want to go.’

Carmakers and suppliers have been working on driverless cars for some time, while in 2010 Google unveiled a self-driving car that has now clocked up half a million miles of safe driving on US roads.

Advocates of driverless reckon the technology will cut the number of accidents – in approximately 90-95% of all road traffic accidents, human behaviour is partially or fully responsible – and that fuel economy and traffic will improve too.

Nissan’s plans would make it the first to launch a mass-market solution.

‘Our industry is always shaped by events that go on around us . . . Google is really a confirmation that we’re on the right track,’ said Mr Palmer. ‘This is a commitment to bring the technology across the range, that gives us volume.’

Last year in Spain a road train comprising a Volvo XC60, V60 and S60, plus one truck automatically driving in convoy behind a lead vehicle operated on a public motorway among other road users. The SARTRE Project believes the road train offers the attractive possibility to do other things while driving, promotes safer transport, and reduces environmental impact.

According to a JD Power & Associates survey published earlier this year, 39% of people would be interested in owning an autonomous car, but only 21% said they’d be interested if it cost them an extra £2,000.