BMW has announced that Level 3 automated driving will be available in the new BMW 7 Series from next spring for customers in Germany.
This will mark the first time that BMW vehicles can take over the task of driving in full, including in the dark.
The new function, BMW Personal Pilot L3, controls the car’s speed, distance to the vehicle ahead and lane positioning. This capability allows the driver to direct their attention to other activities while travelling at speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour on motorways with structurally separated carriageways.
The new option will be available for order for the new BMW 7 Series from December to be fitted in vehicles from next March. It will be offered exclusively in Germany at a price of 6,000 EUR.
Thanks to its sophisticated sensors, this is the first system of its kind that will also operate in the dark.
What’s more, with this launch, BMW Group will be the first carmaker to offer an advanced Level 2 driving function (BMW Highway Assistant) and a Level 3 system (BMW Personal Pilot L3) within its portfolio.
These two systems differ as the Level 2 BMW Highway Assistant requires drivers to keep their eyes on the road while it is active. In comparison, BMW Personal Pilot L3 allows the driver to concentrate on other tasks such as emails and telephone calls, as long as they are prepared to take back control when prompted.
