BMW to launch urban driver assist in Germany from 2027

German carmaker BMW has announced that from 2027 it will extend its partially automated driving features to urban environments. Germany will be the first market, with other countries to follow. The move is part of an industry effort to keep up with US automaker Tesla and its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.

What the system does

Using built-in GPS navigation, the system helps steer, accelerate and brake on both highways and city streets. In town it can assist with changing lanes, making turns, yielding to other vehicles and negotiating roundabouts.

It is a Level 2 driver-assist system, so drivers must still watch the road and be ready to take over at any moment. BMW will let drivers take their hands off the wheel on highways, but on local roads hands must remain on it.

BMW says the system works cooperatively with the driver, who can steer, brake or accelerate without switching it off. A heads-up display and a 3D map on the main dashboard screen show what the car sees and what the system is doing.

Hardware and approval

The required cameras and sensors are already fitted to models such as the 3 Series, 7 Series, X5, iX3 and iX4. The feature can be enabled through an over-the-air software update. It follows new European safety rules that allow cars to make automated moves on city streets for the first time. BMW says outside experts have road-tested it and confirmed it meets technical standards, with final official approval expected in early 2027.

Safety concerns

Safety researchers are increasingly worried about driver attention and crashes. The source notes evidence that most such systems are less safe than normal human driving, as drivers over-rely on them and react more slowly when taking back control. BMW, like Tesla, stresses that the driver stays responsible, though some Tesla customers have successfully argued in court that the company bears some responsibility for crashes.