BMW Drivers Hit 200 Million “Hands-Free” Kilometers As Level 2+ Driving Assist Expands To Europe

BMW drivers hit 200 Million “Hands-Free” kilometers as Level 2+ driving assistance system expands to 20 European countries.

Available across multiple models including the 7 Series, X5 and XM, the system enables automated driving at speeds of up to 130 km/h (81 mph).

BMW customers have covered more than 200 million kilometres (nearly 125,000,000 miles) hands free with the BMW Highway Assistant, which enables automated driving on highways at speeds of up to 130 km/h (81 mph).

Available across multiple model ranges including the 5 Series, 7 Series, iX, X5, X6, X7 and XM, the system takes over longitudinal and lateral control and supports the driver with automated lane changes confirmed with a glance.

The BMW Highway Assistant allows drivers with compatible models to rest their hands comfortably in their laps while remaining attentive and ready to intervene if needed.

BMW’s Level 2 driving assistance includes redundant systems for lane detection and vehicle positioning via cameras and high-resolution maps, while a front camera ensures that the driver stays alert and ready to take over at all times

“Using information from the side cameras, the system continuously checks whether the vehicle is centred in the lane. A safety chip on the ADAS computer constantly monitors that everything is functioning correctly” the brand said in a statement.

BMW has also announced plans to expand the availability of its Level 2 “hands-off” driving assistance in Europe to over 20 countries, following its approval by the Driver Control Assistance Systems (DCAS).

Whilst the previous generation of BMW driver assistance systems was offered only in Germany, the USA and Canada and in new BMW iX3, i3 and 7 Series, the latest-gen will be available to customers in Europe, including Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and the Benelux countries.

Dr Mihiar Ayoubi, Senior Vice President Driving Experience Development : “The symbiotic interplay between driver and driver assistance during hands-free driving with our Highway Assistant, and the underlying safety concept, are unique in the industry.”

“Over 200 million kilometres of hands-free highway driving in real-world customer use demonstrate just how reliable and relevant this system is in everyday life.”

• See Also : All-new Vision BMW Alpina Previews The Future Of BMW’s New Exclusive Performance Brand