Yandex released a new video of its two Toyota Prius V development mules driving around in snowy conditions. Winter weather is challenging for self-driving cars not only because of reduced traction but because snow can obscure the lane markings autonomous vehicles rely on as a visual cue to orient themselves. Winter capability is particularly important for Yandex, which hopes to develop an autonomous ride-sharing service in Russia, a country known for harsh winters.

The conditions Yandex’s self-driving cars negotiate in this video aren’t exactly extreme; at times there isn’t even any snow on the roads. The cars perform basic functions like avoiding other vehicles and pedestrians and making smooth stops. With so many companies testing self-driving cars, it’s more a demonstration of minimal competence than of technological boundaries being pushed.

For self-driving cars to replace human drivers, it goes without saying that they will have to function in all kinds of weather. With most U.S. autonomous-car testing taking place in and around Silicon Valley, winter weather is not something most cars will encounter on a daily basis. But companies are accounting for that.

Ford and General Motors test self-driving cars year round in Michigan and Ford has already conducted dedicated snow testing. Waymo will bring some of its autonomous Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans to Michigan this winter for testing as well. To improve the technology, autonomous cars dashing through the snow will have to become a more common sight.

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Series-ready autonomous vehicles require a broad range of capabilities including protection against malicious cyber attacks and functional safety technology capable of detecting and even predicting system failures. The Renesas electronics platforms are regarded as meeting these requirements. In addition, the Japanese chipmaker claims to have the expertise to provide the balance of advanced technologies and traditional automotive requirements, including aspects such as electronic performance, power consumption, form factors, packaging and installation of electronic systems against the background of the hostile electronic environment in cars.

Toyota selected Renesas as the key semiconductor supplier for its “Highway Teammate”, an autonomous car prototype capable of merging, passing changing lanes other acrivities during highway driving – albeit with a safety driver present in the car. This requirement corresponds to the definitions of level 4 of autonomous driving. Production vehicles from Toyota meeting these requirements will hit the roads in 2020.

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