Autonomous electric cars will be here sooner than we think to save us time and perhaps even our lives.

Today cars are an epidemic. Over 37,000 people die in road crashes each year in the U.S. An additional 2.35 million are injured or disabled each year in the U.S. Sadly, car accidents are the leading cause of death for people between ages 5 to 24 in the U.S. By the way, a majority of traffic-related accidents are caused by human error. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could get through our days without muttering under our breath, “How on earth did that person get their driver’s license?”

The fact is that most human drivers generally aren’t that great. Mobile devices, traffic congestions and demanding jobs, are serious distractions to all of us as drivers. With the increased pace of urbanization this will only become worse. One way to improve this is with autonomous cars that use sensors and advance mapping techniques to move people safely and efficiently. It may sound like science fiction to some, but the technology that enables autonomous cars is already here. Sure, it will take time for consumers and regulators to catch up but I have no doubt we will see great progress in the next few years.

Not only will autonomous cars make us safer, they’ll make us less stressed and more productive. In 2015 alone, Americans wasted 8 billion hours stuck in traffic. Between 2013 to 2030 the cumulative direct and indirect cost of congestion in the U.S. will be the highest in the world at $2.8 trillion. The average commuter in the U.S. loses 42 hours a year due to congested roads. And, get this, research suggests there is a 40% increase in divorce rate if one spouse’s commute is 45+ minutes each day. Not only can autonomous cars save lives, they may potentially save marriages!

Last week in Austin, Texas during the South by Southwest conference, I shared NIO’s vision and plans for delivering autonomous electric vehicles to consumers in the United States in 2020.

NIO’s vision is to give people time back, so that they can be everything they want to be. No more wasting your time, forcing you to become a driver.

With NIO autonomous electric vehicles, you will be as productive as you would be at your desk, or as relaxed as you would be on your couch. As the car drives, you can conduct a video conference call for work or catch up on last night’s episode of “Limitless” or “Supergirl.” The vehicle’s interior can be set up for a commute, a road trip or even a nap. The car’s AI system will know where you are going, what’s on your calendar and it will adjust to your needs. Yes, you may no longer say your commute is a waste of time.

And as an electric vehicle, NIO will be part of our collective, environmental solution to leave the planet better than we found it. Air pollution currently causes 3 million premature deaths globally every year. The U.S. is first in oil consumption and second in carbon emissions in the world. Motor vehicles collectively cause 75% of carbon monoxide pollution in the U.S. We have the technology to cut these emissions and help us all breathe cleaner air.

I’m excited to introduce NIO to the United States. Fewer deaths, cleaner air and more time isn’t just a dream anymore, it will be our reality.

Padmasree Warrior is the CEO of NIO U.S. NIO is a new autonomous, electric car company with U.S. headquarters in Silicon Valley, CA. Previously, Warrior was the CTO of Cisco and Motorola. She serves on the board of Microsoft. NIO was formerly known as NextEV in the U.S.