Tech

BMW Vehicles Depart The Production Line Completely On Their Own (Video)

Published

1 month ago

November 27, 2024

BMW has achieved a groundbreaking milestone: its newest models are now departing the factory fully prepared for automated driving. Straight from the production line, these vehicles come with state-of-the-art autonomous driving technology, allowing for smooth hands-free operation under certain conditions.

BMW’s dedication to providing creative solutions and influencing the direction of transportation is demonstrated by this development. BMW makes certain that every car satisfies the highest requirements of safety, accuracy, and dependability by including autonomous driving technologies throughout production.

For BMW drivers, the dream of self-driving cars is now a reality thanks to these autonomous abilities, which mark a huge advancement in the automotive industry

The BMW Group is making great strides in revolutionizing its manufacturing processes through digitization and automation within its BMW iFACTORY framework. A key part of this transformation is the Automated Driving In-Plant technology, which has been under development since 2022 at the company’s largest European production plant in Dingolfing.

After successfully obtaining the CE certificate, this innovative system is now fully operational. This state-of-the-art technology is also being introduced at BMW’s Leipzig plant, with plans to expand its application to additional facilities across the production network.

The factory in Dingolfing uses this system for models such as the BMW 5 and 7 Series, while Leipzig adapts it for vehicles such as the MINI Countryman and certain BMW models. In Dingolfing, vehicles drive completely autonomously on a route longer than one kilometre. This journey begins in the assembly halls and extends through the testing area before reaching the end. The system relies on sophisticated sensor tuning. It also integrates a cloud-based architecture for seamless coordination, regardless of vehicle equipment features. Swiss start-up Embotech AG played a key role in the development of this technology, collaborating with BMW through its customer program.

Leipzig aims to automate driving for 90 percent of its models, with the Regensburg and Oxford facilities expected to follow suit in 2025. BMW’s new plant in Debrecen, Hungary, will incorporate the technology from the start of operations.

BMW plans to expand the system for use in testing areas and open areas. Engineers are further refining the technology, integrating more functions to complement external sensors. With this advancement, BMW is setting the stage for a more efficient and intelligent manufacturing future.