# Chatty Self-Driving Cars Honda and SoftBank will Build Cars that Make Friends with Their Drivers By Joey Haar | Published 2016-07-22 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/honda-and-softbank References: [techcrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/21/honda-softbank-cars-into-friends/?ncid=rss) & [phys.org](http://phys.org/news/2016-07-asimo-pepper-honda-softbank-partnering.html) [Honda](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ev-initiative) and [SoftBank](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/softbank), two companies with a wealth of experience in cars and robotics, are partnering to eventually create a car that isn't just self-driving, but also fosters a friendly relationship with its drivers. As a major motor vehicle manufacturer, Honda is well aware of the relentless push toward [self-driving cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/automated-driving-system) in the near future. But rather than joining in, the company is raising the stakes with its partnership. SoftBank is a robotics company that focuses on personality -- its 'Pepper' robot made news for being able to recognize mood swings in people and converse with them based on those emotional readings. If Honda and SoftBank can successfully integrate self-driving technology with robotic relationship-building, the result will be a driving experience that feels like a road trip with one's best friend every time, even during a five minute jaunt to the grocery store. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.5/10 - Popularity: 20% | Activity: 46% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Personable Autonomous Vehicles:** The integration of self-driving technology with robotic relationship-building creates a driving experience that feels like a road trip with one's best friend. - **Emotionally Intelligent Cars:** Cars that can recognize mood swings in people and converse with them based on emotional readings open up opportunities for personalized interactions. - **Robotic Companions for Drivers:** Creating a car that fosters a friendly relationship with its drivers presents potential for companionship and entertainment during travel. ### Where This Applies - **Automotive:** The automotive industry can leverage the integration of self-driving technology with robotic relationship-building to enhance the driving experience and attract customers. - **Robotics:** The robotics industry can explore the development of emotionally intelligent cars that recognize mood swings and engage in personalized conversations with drivers. - **Entertainment:** The entertainment industry has an opportunity to create content and experiences specifically designed for robotic companions in cars, enhancing the overall travel experience. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Collaborative Electric Vehicle Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ev-initiative.md) - [Tech Brand Vehicle Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/afeela-car.md) - [Mobility Tech Companies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sony-honda-mobility.md) - [Autonomous Work Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-work-vehicle.md) - [Child-Friendly Service Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/next-generation-service-robot.md) - [AI Built-In Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/baidu-1.md) - [Autonomous Road-Assessing Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lane-monitoring.md) - [Handsfree Highway Driving Technologies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/honda-sensing.md) - [Construction Autonomous Work Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-work-vehicle-1.md)