BMW Drops Level 3 Autonomy for 7 Series: High Costs, Low Demand Drive Decision
BMW abandoned the level 3 automated driving system in its models due to low demand and high cost. The Personal Pilot L3 technology will not appear in the updated 7 Series sedan.
What is known
The Level 3 system was offered as an option for the 7 Series and allowed the driver to completely take their hands off the steering wheel and not monitor the road in certain conditions. It operated at speeds up to 60 km/h but had a number of limitations. For example, it did not activate in road work zones, on toll sections, or in rain or at temperatures below 3°C. To accommodate additional sensors, BMW even changed the shape of the radiator grille.
The option turned out to be expensive — in Germany it was priced at 5110 euros — and did not gain wide distribution. According to the company, demand was insufficient to make the technology profitable. As a result, BMW decided to exclude Level 3 from the list of options for the facelifted version of the 7 Series (index G70 LCI), which is expected to premiere soon.
Instead, the manufacturer will focus on more affordable level 2 autonomy systems. This refers to Symbiotic Drive technology, which debuted on the new iX3 crossover. This system allows the car to independently maintain its lane and manage speed but requires constant driver oversight.
The cost of Symbiotic Drive is about 1450 euros, which is roughly 3.5 times cheaper than the previous Level 3 system. The list of functions includes traffic light recognition, automatic stopping at a red signal, and starting on green. At the same time, the built-in camera monitors the driver's attention and blocks the electronic assistant if the driver is not looking at the road.
BMW emphasizes that it is not abandoning more advanced automated driving technologies. However, the return of Level 3 is possible only with the emergence of a sustainable business model. In the near future, the company will focus on the development of second-level systems.
Source: BMW Blog