What's all this about?

With either semi- or fully autonomous cars all the rage, the Renault-Nissan Alliance (RNA) - the world's fourth biggest car group - has announced it will launch more than ten models with self-driving technology in the next four years.

What sort of kit are we looking at?

Single-Lane Control allows the cars to drive themselves on main roads, including in heavy, stop/go traffic, and we're supposed to see this during the course of 2016. Multiple-Lane Control, due out in 2018, builds upon that by negotiating hazards and changing lanes on motorways without the driver having to lift a finger. And by 2020, Intersection Autonomy will allow RNA's cars to traverse busy city junctions on their own, as well as giving them the capability to take on the very worst of urban traffic.

Is that all for now?

No, the first 'Alliance Multimedia System', with new media and navigation software and functionality, will also debut throughout the group's products in the coming 12 months.

Where will all these autonomous cars be on sale?

RNA is preparing the models for three continents, with vehicles featuring the tech to be sold in Europe, the US, Japan and China. Renault-Nissan says that all of its new gadgets will be seen on a wide range of 'mainstream, mass-market cars at affordable prices'.