BMW will launch navigation-guided city driving on select models starting in 2027, beginning in Germany before expanding to other markets. The system operates as a Level 2 driver assist feature, enabling the vehicle to steer, speed up, slow down, change lanes, make turns, yield to other cars, and navigate roundabouts on urban streets. On highways, drivers can remove their hands from the wheel. On city roads, they must keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times.
The feature will roll out through over-the-air software updates to existing models including the 3 Series, 7 Series, X5, iX3, and iX4, which already have the necessary cameras and sensors. BMW's Neue Klasse platform includes a driver assist system partly powered by Qualcomm's technology. Outside experts have road-tested the system and confirmed it meets technical standards, with final government approval expected in early 2027.
BMW positions the system as cooperative with drivers rather than adversarial, allowing drivers to steer, brake, or adjust speed without disabling the feature. Information displays on the heads-up display and a 3D map on the dashboard screen show what the car sees and what the assistance system is doing.
The move puts BMW in direct competition with Tesla's Full Self-Driving system. However, safety researchers have raised concerns about Level 2 systems broadly, citing evidence that most driver-assist systems are less safe than normal human driving. Drivers tend to develop overreliance on these systems and show slower reaction times when taking back control. Tesla faces legal challenges where customers have argued the company bears responsibility for crashes occurring during FSD use, despite Tesla's emphasis that drivers remain responsible.