Following Mercedes, BMW also abandons Level 3 automated driving

Following Mercedes-Benz, BMW has also apparently discontinued its system for highly automated driving at SAE Level 3. The Munich-based company seems to share the same assessment as its Stuttgart counterpart: Level 3 can only be used in a few scenarios, yet the technology is expensive. Instead, the focus will remain on Level 2+.

Bmw 7er personal pilot adas automatisiertes fahren — Image: BMW

According to a report by the German Automobilwoche, BMW plans to discontinue its ‘Personal Pilot L3’ system, which was introduced in 2024 and enables Level 3 highly automated driving, as part of the BMW 7 Series facelift in late April 2026. The system allows the vehicle to take full control on motorways at speeds of up to 60 kph, such as in traffic jams or slow-moving traffic. The “Personal Pilot L3” manages steering, speed, and distance control, enabling the driver to engage in other activities (e.g., reading emails) while remaining ready to intervene if necessary.

However, the system is extremely costly and limited in its applications. For instance, it requires expensive Lidar sensors to be installed in the vehicle and only functions on motorways, but even then, not at normal cruising speeds.

This is why BMW has now decided to discontinue the system, reverting from Level 3 to Level 2 automation. While this may initially appear to be a step backwards, it also offers several advantages: buyers of the new driver assistance system in the BMW 7 Series or the all-electric BMW i7 will no longer have to pay €6,000. Instead, the price is expected to align with that of the new iX3, for which BMW charges €1,450.

Speaking of the iX3: this is the first model of the upcoming ‘Neue Klasse’. The BMW 7 Series will be the first vehicle to adopt the design and technology of the ‘Neue Klasse’ during its facelift in April. According to Automobilwoche, this will include a newly developed Level 2 driver assistance system, which is being introduced for the first time in the BMW iX3.

Motorway assistant comparable to iX3 with ‘Hands-Off, Eyes-On’

Specifically, this refers to the so-called ‘Motorway Assistant’, which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel at speeds of up to 130 kph, though they must remain attentive and ready to intervene (hands-off, eyes-on). The system assists with vehicle control within the lane and can even change lanes automatically if needed, requiring only a glance from the driver for confirmation.

The Motorway Assistant is not standard in the iX3 but is available as a paid optional extra, the ‘Motorway & City Assistant’, for €1,450. In addition to the Motorway Assistant, this package includes the City Assistant, which, at launch in Germany, enables stopping at red traffic lights and automatic acceleration. Further driver assistance functions for complex urban driving situations are set to be introduced via over-the-air software updates at a later date. Another advantage: BMW has received DCAS certification for the system, allowing it to be deployed in 60 countries.

Mercedes-Benz recently paused its Level 3 automated driving programme: the so-called Drive Pilot, available since 2021 for the S-Class and EQS and usable on motorways at speeds of up to 95 kph, is being shelved. With the S-Class facelift, Mercedes is instead offering the MB.Drive Assist Pro, a Level 2++ driver assistance system combined with navigation. This is designed to enable partially automated door-to-door driving, similar to Tesla’s FSD (Supervised).

automobilwoche.de (in German)

1 Comment

about „Following Mercedes, BMW also abandons Level 3 automated driving“

Elvinas

23.02.2026 um 17:24

Good news, another hint of sanity after realizing that physical controls are actually required by the end users. Autonomous driving is a solution to a mostly non existing problem, which makes vehicle more expensive without bringing much benefit for most of the users.What's next? I would vote first for getting rid of ridiculously large wheel rims as using 19-21" on something like an i3 is a nonsense. At least make an option to have 15" or at worst 16" wheel rims at least on a segment B and C vehicles. The next thing to get rid of (at least make it optional) is a glass roofs - heavier, prone to break if using a roof rack, direct sunshine requires to close glass roof with a cover, which makes question why use glass roof in the first place.