The proposed new legislation for the insuring of self-driving cars will have a significant role in the adoption and integration of the breakthrough technology that can help reduce traffic congestion and vehicle incidents on UK roads, as well as creating new jobs in the UK’s high-tech economy.

Nissan has already confirmed that the refreshed Nissan Qashqai will be the first Nissan car in Europe - and the first UK-manufactured car - equipped with autonomous technology in 2017 with ProPilot.

The introduction marks an important step in the brand’s commitment to make autonomous drive technologies available to the mass market.

It will be produced at the company’s flagship manufacturing plant in Sunderland and sold in the UK as well as markets across Europe.

The multi-award winning Qashqai is the UK’s fifth-highest selling car.

ProPilot, Nissan’s stage one autonomous drive technology, enables the car to drive autonomously and safely in a single lane in heavy traffic conditions on highways.

The introduction of ProPilot in Europe next year is the first step in Nissan’s longer-term commitment to launch a range of vehicles with autonomous drive capabilities by 2020.