Munich, Germany – BMW has partnered with tech companies Qualcomm and Arriver, announcing its goal to release a new autonomous driving system in 2025.
Dubbed Snapdragon Ride, German carmaker says their level three system can drive autonomously but requires the driver to take over the vehicle’s controls within seconds of notification. Despite the name, Snapdragon likely falls under the NHTSA’s level two classification.
According to the NHTSA’s Automated Vehicles Policy, level two systems can drive by themselves, but require drivers to maintain a state of constant readiness. Level three systems allow drivers to completely disengage from driving, only requiring control after a “sufficiently comfortable transition time.”
BMW is not the only company releasing NHTSA level two autonomous systems on the consumer market, with Tesla releasing its Full Self Driving beta in the United States earlier in March 2022.
For more information on the NHTSA’s autonomous driving regulations, click here.
