Tesla Motors has unveiled the new 2014 Model S, which boasts a new dual-motor, all-wheel-drive, and autopilot mode which has some driverless car tracking. This feature allows the vehicle to change speeds automatically, slow down with traffic and be summoned remotely on private property.

The new features on the new Model S suggest that fully driverless cars may be on the way in the next few years, but Tesla CEO Elon Musk is not as enthusiastic as some other carmakers on how long it will take for these cars to be released to the public.

“Maybe five or six years from now, drivers can literally get in the car, go to sleep, and wake up at (their) destination,” said Musk at the event.

Tesla is not the only carmaker that has been working on driverless cars. While not specifically a carmaker, Google has been working on the concept for a number of years now. The company has been testing the concept, however it has not given given a time period on when the technology might be ready.

It is likely that driverless cars will gradually start to appear, with the first batch of those cars having the same type of technology as the Tesla Model S. These features include being able to adjust speed based on signs, changing lanes, stopping at traffic and so on. Throughout this, the driver will always need to remain in the seat and be ready to take control if need be.

Truly driverless cars will, according to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, be completely different from what cars are today. Cars will reportedly have much more room inside for passengers to concentrate on other tasks.

One of the biggest obstacles for driverless cars will be regulations, however a number of states have started to look at changing these regulations.