The last few decades have seen a quantum leap in terms of development – not just in cars but in driving too. And it’s not just in terms of technology either: our understanding of modern-day mobility has changed as well. Driving is about much more than just steering, accelerating and braking. It’s connected, designed for dynamics and comfort, and becoming increasingly automated. The intelligent systems in today’s cars allow them to adapt to the driver and their needs while at the same time improving safety.
Human and machine work
in harmony.
BMW Motorway Assistant with
hands-free function.
Since March 2024 the BMW Motorway Assistant with hands-free function has been available in Germany, Canada and the US, in the BMW 7 Series, X5, X6 and X7, and the BMW XM and iX. When it’s activated, drivers can take their hands off the wheel for prolonged periods at speeds of up to 130 km/h – although they must remain alert and be ready to take over the controls at any time. The Assistant then keeps the car in its lane but also changes lane automatically if needed. All it takes is for the driver to look in the mirror to confirm the suggested manoeuvre. That means the BMW Motorway Assistant offers the highest level of partly automated driving.
The automated driving and parking functions in the Neue Klasse have been developed in line with three principles – Smart. Safe. Symbiotic – to genuinely benefit customers. They are also tailored to the specific conditions in each market. The BMW Group is a pioneer in this respect and the first carmaker in Germany to offer hands-free, partly automated driving at speeds of up to 130 km/h and the Entry/Exit feature – in the technology package of the Neue Klasse. This tech package has now got system approval according to the UN ECE R171 regulation for DCAS (Driver Control Assistance Systems), and it can now be rolled out across many more European countries.
The foundation of modern driving:
Technological basis.
The BMW Group is constantly enhancing its existing automated driving functions, with machine learning and AI as key areas of development. We firmly believe that automated driving and parking functions will shape the future of individual mobility and add real value for customers. The safety of our customers and other road users remains our top priority.
In the Neue Klasse, the automated driving and parking functions come together in a high-performance computer called the Superbrain of Automated Driving. With more than 20 times the computing capacity of its predecessor, this offers all that’s needed to deliver the advanced driver assistance features.
Environmental perception is enabled by
a combination of state-of-the-art sensor technologies:
360-Degree Perception.
The system uses a camera-based vision stack for object and traffic sign recognition, the surround and lane views, parking, driver monitoring and mapping. Its powers of perception are enhanced by low-level perception including the bird’s-eye-view architecture and new methods of extracting information from fish-eye cameras. Low-level perception between camera and radar was developed to reduce capture latency, optimise system performance in active safety situations, and reliably recognise complex intersections in urban settings.
Advanced, context-aware driving.
Advanced AI models for environmental perception and prediction are integrated with rule-based algorithms to make the final driving decision and ensure safe handling in complex driving situations.
BMW Symbiotic Drive
offers seamless support.
In Neue Klasse vehicles, Symbiotic Drive offers a completely new driving experience. The driver’s intention to accelerate, brake or steer melds seamlessly and intuitively with AI-supported software, taking Sheer Driving Pleasure to a new dimension. Many driver assistance functions are already part of the standard equipment package.
Tomorrow’s mobility:
Already with us today in many BMW models.
At the BMW Group, partly automated driving is already a reality: we were the first carmaker in Germany to offer a partly automated driving system for speeds of up to 130 km/h. The new BMW Motorway Assistant was first introduced in 2023, in the BMW 5 Series Sedan. With the system activated, drivers in Germany, the US and Canada can take their hands off the wheel for prolonged periods at speeds of up to 130 km/h – although they must remain alert and be ready to take over the controls at any time. The Assistant then keeps the car in its lane but also changes lane automatically if needed. All it takes is for the driver to confirm the suggested manoeuvre by looking in the mirror. The BMW Motorway Assistant is now available in the BMW 7 Series, X5, X6, X7, XM and iX as well.
Since spring 2024 BMW has also been offering highly automated driving. In Germany the BMW 7 Series comes with the BMW Personal Pilot L3, which takes full responsibility for driving in specific situations.
Five levels lead
to autonomous driving.
Level 1:
Assisted driving.
These days driving is much more than a “driver only” affair, as a great many cars are already equipped with intelligent driver assistance systems. With Level 1 assisted driving, BMW Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is fundamentally important, ensuring that preselected speeds and stopping distance preferences are adhered to, supporting the driver in certain situations, and making driving more convenient.
Level 2:
Partly automated driving.
Level 2 automation takes even more of the strain off drivers – but they still remain responsible for driving. Advanced driver assistance systems with extended sensor technology enable greater automation, which in turn significantly increases driver comfort. The Steering and Lane Control Assistants can autonomously take care of steering, braking and lane changes. But drivers must keep their eyes firmly on the traffic and be ready to intervene at any time.
Level 3:
Highly automated driving.
The technological leap from Level 2 to Level 3 is very challenging, and at BMW it is underpinned by a comprehensive safety concept. When it comes to keeping control in complex traffic situations, the successful interplay between top sensor systems, real-time-capable HD mapping and reliable detection of traffic events is crucial. With highly automated operations, however, drivers must still be able to take over the controls in a matter of seconds. In Germany, BMW already has approval for its Personal Pilot L3 and has offered the Level 3 assistance system in the BMW 7 Series since 2024.
Level 4:
Fully automated driving.
In some situations, this system can take over driving completely. The driver then becomes a passenger for the time being and need no longer monitor the system. On some stretches of road, they will be asked in good time to take over the controls again. A valid driving licence is still required at this level of automation, and the driver must be fit to drive. The BMW Group has been collaborating with Valeo on Level 4 parking solutions.
Level 5:
Autonomous driving.
A vision for the future: cars no longer have drivers, and all occupants are passengers. They are controlled completely by the system and perform all the necessary tasks by themselves, autonomously. They can even handle complex situations by themselves, such as crossing an intersection, navigating a roundabout or responding correctly at a zebra crossing.
State-of-the-art test centres
for automated driving.
In 2023 the BMW Group opened a new test centre for automated driving and parking. Located in Sokolov in the Czech Republic, the Future Mobility Test Centre (FMDC) offers new options for testing highly and fully automated driving and parking in realistic conditions. It is the perfect complement to virtual simulations. The combination of real and virtual testing allows the BMW Group to meet the highly discerning safety standards of customers. The FMDC in Sokolov completes the existing range of test areas, in Aschheim, just outside Munich, in Miramas, France, and in Arjeplog, Sweden.
Safely into the driving experience
of the future.
When it comes to autonomous driving, safety is the top priority at the BMW Group. So, our focus is not just on developing safety-critical systems, but also on monitoring and testing the relevant technologies. For customers to place their trust in our automated driving systems, safety is essential. And that’s why every detail of every innovation is thoroughly tested. Because we want drivers to have complete confidence in our cars.
Securely tested.
Driver assistance systems and technologies for every level are tested using specially developed methods. One of them is what’s known as the test box, in which software puts the test car through a range of different scenarios to test new technologies by simulation. Our driver assistance systems have been instrumental in our achievement of the highest NCAP rating and have also won us multiple awards.
Safety first.
As standard.
The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) has long been the standard for evaluating safety features in the European car industry. As automated driving has progressed, the Euro NCAP has introduced new basic regulations. Highly automated driver assistance systems have been mandatory in new cars since 2022 and support the creation of future-proof safety standards including for vehicle technologies.
Driving simulation centre
in Munich.
Since 2021 the BMW Group has been operating the most advanced simulation centre in the automotive industry. Based at the Research and Innovation Centre (FIZ) in Munich, it covers 11,400 m² of floor space, enabling 14 simulators and usability labs to perform realistic tests on driver assistance systems and automation functions. The labs can safely replicate critical or rare traffic situations in great detail and variability, long before trialling out on the road.
