Car makers are sharply divided on whether to offer level-three (L3) autonomy as they weigh up the cost versus the reward.
Currently only BMW and Mercedes offer 'hands-off, eyes-off' autonomy in their flagship limos, and then only in Germany and select American states at traffic jam speeds.
More cars are scheduled to join their ranks, with a total of 25,000 L3-enabled global sales forecast for this year, rising to more than a million in 2026, according to Counterpoint Research.
But who will join the two German brands? The cost of the technology is very much in the premium range. Renault recently took itself out of the running, and Volkswagen is similarly wary of the cost.
"We are not premium or luxury," Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer said. Instead, he flagged demand for handsoff, eyes-on level-two-plus (L2+) tech, which allows the car to take over many of the driving functions but with the driver supervising at all times.
Mercedes is likewise looking to introduce L2+ tech in its next CLA (see bottom left).
Denne historien er fra June 05, 2024-utgaven av Autocar UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 05, 2024-utgaven av Autocar UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
THE DRAMATIC ITALIAN THAT MARKED THE END OF AN ERA
When the Huracán bowed out, the curtain fell forever on Lambo's V10
HOW EV MAKERS CAN WIN THE RACE TO 5.0MPKWH
Manufacturers are honing every detail to close in on big efficiency goal
MASERATI MC20
We bid a sad farewell to a handsome supercar that was easy to live with
The quickening
Instant acceleration is part of the appeal of an EV, but is it all getting a bit much for unwary and inexperienced drivers? JOHN EVANS investigates
Inside track
Watching an F1 race with live access to engineers and telemetry is the stuff of dreams for racing fans. ALEX WOLSTENHOLME makes a day of it
WHOLE IN ONE
The Volkswagen Golf has been all things to all motorists for half a century. At the wheel of a classic Mk1, VICKY PARROTT charts the eight-generation history of one of the world's most successful cars
DACIA DUSTER
Mk3 model gains digital tech, ADAS, slicker looks... Is this mission creep?
MAZDA CX-80 PHEV
Another look at Mazda's hefty SUV, this time in plug-in hybrid form
VAUXHALL GRANDLAND ELECTRIC
Newcomer looks to ease the average family SUV driver into EV motoring
BMW X3 20 XDRIVE
Fourth generation of brand's best-seller arrives with base petrol engine
