BMW to launch hands-off driving system in Germany from 2024

Certain owners of the BMW 7 Series luxury sedan in Germany will be able to drive on motorways with their hands off the steering wheel – and their eyes away from the road – next year, in strictly limited conditions.

In a media statement, BMW announced German owners of the current-generation 7 Series and i7 will soon be able to purchase the brand’s ‘Level Three’ semi-autonomous driving software, which will roll out into the vehicles from March 2024.

‘Level Three’ advanced driver assistance systems allow the car to take full control of itself on highways, letting the driver take their hands off the steering wheel – and eyes off the road – for brief periods when the technology is active, in ideal conditions.

However the driver must remain alert, and ready to take control within a few seconds if the system requires.

The German government granted approval for Level Three technology in December 2021, resulting in Mercedes-Benz offering its 'Drive Pilot' semi-autonomous driving system to its customers in May 2022.

As with Mercedes-Benz’s system, BMW’s software can only be engaged on motorways at speeds up to 60km/h, allowing drivers to take their eyes off the road and watch videos on the vehicle’s central infotainment screen legally.

The package is available as a €6000 ($AU10,000) option for the BMW 7 Series and i7 in Germany, and is expected to be rolled out in more regions which approve Level Three semi-autonomous driving systems on public roads in the future.  

While a modified Mercedes-Benz S-Class with extra lidar and radar sensors was spied in Sydney in early 2022 as a part of an international trial, Level Three semi-autonomous driving systems are not approved for use on public roads, and are not available to order.