International Comparison

Which Car Manufacturer is Leading in Autonomous Driving?

20 min
Mercedes Benz Drive Pilot
Approved: Conditionally automated driving with 95 km/h by Mercedes-Benz in Germany.

Car manufacturers are technologically inching closer to fully autonomous vehicles. In our overview, you will learn which functions are already available in series and what the current state of development is.

For decades, automobile manufacturers have been concerned with the question of how mobility can be simplified and made safer. As early as the 1970s and 80s, OEMs experimented with rudimentary variants of autonomous driving. Innovations such as the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and even automatic transmission were the first precursors of automated or at least assisted driving. Since then, the range of assistance systems has continued to expand.

Until a few years ago, however, these were only incremental steps on the way to partially or highly automated driving. Tesla brought real momentum to the competition in 2015 when the electric car pioneer unlocked the semi-autonomous Autopilot system in its Model S via a software update. The system could automatically change lanes and maintain distance from other cars - a novelty. The move triggered a veritable race in the automotive industry and beyond for the next stages of automated driving.

The Race Towards Autonomous Driving: Key Developments and Challenges

  • Automobile manufacturers have been striving to simplify and enhance the safety of mobility for decades, with early experiments in autonomous driving dating back to the 1970s and 80s. Innovations like the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) paved the way for more advanced driver assistance systems. The introduction of Tesla's semi-autonomous Autopilot in 2015 marked a significant milestone, sparking a competitive race in the automotive industry.
  • Stellantis recently announced its STLA AutoDrive 1.0 system, capable of SAE Level 3 automated driving at speeds up to 60 km/h. Despite the technology being ready, Stellantis has strategically decided to delay its introduction until the market becomes more receptive. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz has been proactive, with its Drive Pilot system approved for Level 3 driving in Germany and expanding to other regions as legal frameworks evolve.
  • BMW has also made strides, receiving approval for Level 3 semi-autonomous driving in Germany, with plans to expand to other markets. The company aims to match Mercedes-Benz's advancements and is focusing on developing a new platform generation with partners like Qualcomm. As the industry progresses, challenges such as legal regulations, market readiness, and technological reliability continue to shape the future of autonomous driving.

This factbox was generated by Labrador AI and proof-read by a journalist.

Stellantis can do Level 3, but doesn't want to yet

The latest development in the race for supremacy comes from Stellantis. In mid-February 2025, the company announced that its STLA AutoDrive 1.0 system for automated driving in the SAE Level 3 range enables automated driving at speeds of up to 60 km/h. Level 2+ is also no longer a problem. However, when asked by automotiveIT, it is said: The current market for Level 3 autonomous driving is very limited. "We have strategically decided not to introduce this technology at this time. As soon as the market opens up and becomes more receptive, we will continue to introduce this advanced technology."

The technology is fully developed and ready for use. Once the target vehicle is identified, they are ready to be seamlessly integrated into its development cycle - commissioning is possible within a few months. This schedule ensures that they can respond quickly and efficiently to market demand.

Mercedes-Benz is ahead of the legal framework

Mercedes-Benz is taking a pioneering role in autonomous driving. After the development cooperation with BMW was put on hold, the Drive Pilot was approved at the end of 2021 at SAE Level 3 by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). Since May 2022, the system has been available for the new S-Class and the EQS. It takes over the entire driving task on German highways, as long as a specified maximum speed is not exceeded and other conditions are met. The permissible maximum speed, which was previously 60 km/h, will be increased to 95 km/h from 2025, as the OEM recently announced after a new approval from the KBA. In terms of sensors, the Stuttgart-based company relies on cameras, radar, microphones, and the second generation of Valeo Scala's lidar. On the occasion of CES 2023, Mercedes also announced that the function was certified for the US state of Nevada. California followed in mid-2023. Since the end of September 2023, the update for the S-Class and EQS can be ordered in the USA, and a test phase is also underway in Tokyo. The introduction in the rest of the USA, other European countries, and China is planned step by step, as soon as the legal conditions for relinquishing the driving task are met there, according to the OEM.

The active distance assistant Distronic has also been further developed by Mercedes-Benz over the years. In the USA and Canada, the system was already available at SAE Level 2+ for the C-, E-, and S-Class as well as for all EQ models. In July 2023, the announcement for the European market finally took place. With the delivery of the new E-Class, Distronic is to be supplemented by the automatic lane change (ALC). This overtakes slower vehicles between 80 and 140 km/h without driver intervention. Only highway-like roads with lane markings and structurally separated directional lanes are necessary. Additionally, ALC assists in approaching exits and changing highways. From September 2024, the Automatic Lane Change in the Driver Assistance Package Plus will be available for 33 European countries. A total of 15 Mercedes-Benz types of the C-, E-, and S-Class, GLC, CLE as well as EQE, EQS, EQS SUV, and EQE SUV can receive the system - either ex-factory or via over-the-air update.

Analogous to the evolution of the driving assistance system, parking is also becoming increasingly autonomous: While the Memory Park Assistant parks fully automatically at SAE Level 2 after a specific parking space has been learned, the S-Class, EQS, and more recently the EQE take it a step further. With the Intelligent Park Pilot, they are equipped for Automated Valet Parking (AVP) at SAE Level 4. In parking garages with the necessary infrastructure, fully automated and driverless parking and unparking is possible. The car is left on a predefined parking area, drives independently to a free parking space, and returns to the pickup area upon request. At the end of 2022, P6 at Stuttgart Airport became the first parking garage worldwide where the driverless parking system is usable in regular operation.

BMW is allowed to introduce Level 3 in Germany

Since June 2023, it has been allowed in Germany to drive semi-autonomously at up to 130 km/h in the new 5 Series sedan from BMW. The OEM received permission from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) for the system, which allows users to take their hands off the steering wheel on certain routes in the future. In the USA and Canada, permission for the Highway Assist was already granted before. In North America, the function is also available in BMW's flagship, the 7 Series. Since spring 2024, the driving function is also available for the BMW iX and the BMW XM as well as for the X5, X6, and BMW X7. And with Level 3, the Munich-based company will also match Mercedes-Benz on German roads. "We are bringing the whole thing to market first in Germany," says Nicolai Martin, Senior Vice President of Driving Experience in an interview with automotiveIT. At the end of September 2023, Martin confirmed that BMW has received approval from the Federal Motor Transport Authority for automated driving at Level 3. Since March 2024, the system is available in the 7 Series. China is expected to follow shortly thereafter. In light of this plan, the statements made by BMW CEO Oliver Zipse during CES 2023 were highly surprising: A Level 3 system that shuts down under the previous restrictions is nonsense. "No customer buys it," said Zipse. BMW also does not want to take on the "risk" in the liability issue.

Overall, BMW currently has around 40 driver assistance functions on the market. The BMW iX long served as the brand's pioneer with the most extensive standard equipment to date. It is also designed for autonomous driving up to SAE Level 3 and was intended to be a milestone on the way to Levels 4 and 5. After the iX and i7, the year 2025 is expected to mark the biggest milestone: Then, the Neue Klasse will usher in a new platform generation, and the long-term cooperation with Qualcomm and Arriver will come into play. Together with the new partners, who are replacing Mobileye, the focus is on further developing SAE Level 2 and 3 based on the Snapdragon Ride Vision System-on-Chip (SoC).

The levels of autonomous driving:

To describe the degree of vehicle automation, the SAE International standard J3016 has been used since 2014. It classifies automated driving systems into six levels.

 

Level 0 - no automation

Level 1 - driver assistance

Level 2 - partial automation

Level 3 - conditional automation

Level 4 - high automation

Level 5 - full automation

VW increasingly relies on Mobileye

Volkswagen was long considered a follower in autonomous driving. With the power shift at the top of the group, many partnerships and projects were recently put to the test. The latest developments resulted in a major shake-up in the Cariad board and a new cooperation between Porsche and Mobileye in autonomous driving. The realization of the self-proclaimed "lighthouse project" Trinity, which was supposed to make driving on SAE Level 4 the standard, is still up in the air. Audi's Artemis project, which was supposed to bring its own autonomous car to the road by 2025 with the support of Cariad and Nvidia, was also temporarily up for discussion. The partnership with Ford and the associated involvement in the startup Argo AI has been completely terminated. Nevertheless, Wolfsburg is sticking to its goal of offering an autonomously driving ID. Buzz for the mobility service Moia from 2026.

In mid-March 2024, the company announced the expansion of certain functionalities of the Mobileye platforms SuperVision and Chauffeur for the premium-oriented software architecture E³ 1.2, which is to be gradually implemented at Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Porsche. The current assistance system for its passenger car fleet is known as Travel Assist. It helps with acceleration as well as maintaining the lane and distance to the vehicle in front. To improve through swarm data, the new software generation 3.0 for ID models was rolled out on the one hand, and on the other hand, a partnership with Mobileye was announced, aiming for a global and scalable map solution. The software platform for all vehicle classes of the group brands is being developed as part of a cooperation between Bosch and the software subsidiary Cariad. From the middle of the decade, it is also expected to rely on Qualcomm's Snapdragon Ride system. A direct cooperation of the tech player with Cariad should enable defining its own requirements early on and thus ensure optimal interaction between the platform and the software developed jointly with Bosch.

Tesla wants to install radar sensors again

Tesla has long been considered a pioneer and flagship of autonomous driving. Currently, the electric cars of the Californian company operate at SAE Level 2+, meaning largely autonomous driving on highways. The functions are divided into three levels: Autopilot, Enhanced Autopilot, and Full Self-Driving (FSD). The Autopilot assists with acceleration, braking, and steering. The enhanced version includes Navigate on Autopilot, which allows for autonomous handling of highway interchanges and exits. It also includes automatic lane changes, an improved steering assistant for more complex road layouts, and fully automated parking without occupants. Full Self-Driving is currently the beta software that expands the system to include traffic sign and traffic light recognition as well as a steering assistant for urban traffic.

Tesla Model S
Tesla is a pioneer of autonomous driving.

However, Tesla's approach is controversial for three reasons: First, the marketing terms Autopilot and Full Self-Driving are criticized as misleading exaggerations that encourage reckless driving. Second, the company's philosophy of beta rollouts endangers road safety. This increasingly calls authorities into action. Instead of adding updates, the systems should function reliably before being used by hundreds of thousands on the road, according to the criticism. In the first quarter of 2025, Tesla wants to bring Full Self-Driving to European roads as well. However, whether the local authorities will approve this remains questionable.

The third reason seems at least soon to be a thing of the past. While Tesla has taken a unique approach to environmental detection so far, the US automaker now plans to install radar sensors again. Unlike its competitors, company chief Elon Musk relied solely on cameras for a long time, while the industry unanimously demanded additional radar and lidar sensors. In May 2024, however, the disclosure of customers of lidar manufacturer Luminar attracted attention. Tesla ranked high with just under two million US dollars. But here too, there is so far only speculation about what Tesla will ultimately use the technology for. So far, the OEM has refrained from using the sensors.

Cruise accidents slow down GM

In the USA, General Motors is undoubtedly one of the biggest drivers of autonomous driving. In 2016, the automaker acquired the startup Cruise Automation and consolidated its developments in the subsidiary. In early 2020, the presentation of the autonomous shuttle Cruise Origin finally marked the beginning of several billion-dollar investments. GM was impressed by the robotaxi service in San Francisco, which operates without a safety driver, and subsequently acquired additional shares. Recently, however, the success story of the GM subsidiary has been stuck in a dark chapter. For only a few weeks, Cruise had the permission to expand its driverless transportation in San Francisco. Two devastating accidents later, the shuttle service is no longer allowed to put vehicles on the road without people at the wheel.

A self-driving car for private customers is planned for the middle of the decade, according to GM CEO Mary Barra. The Super Cruise driver assistance system, on the other hand, is offered by the manufacturer for corporate brands such as Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, or Hummer. By 2023, it is expected to be used in other volume models. An update has so far added the automated lane change and expanded the supported road network from 200,000 to over 400,000 miles. Meanwhile, the further development Ultra Cruise is in the starting blocks for the OEM's premium vehicles. Although the assistance system also represents Level 2+, it is expected to master 95 percent of all driving scenarios automatically, going beyond highway driving and also supporting the user in inner cities or when parking. The fully electric Cadillac Celestiq and other Chevrolet models were expected to make the start in 2023. According to GM, the system works on over three million kilometers of road in the USA and Canada. The typical combination of cameras, radar, and lidar sensors as well as Qualcomm's Snapdragon Ride platform is used for this. It features a 5-nanometer SoC and an AI accelerator and is expected to provide the necessary computing power.

To also promote autonomous driving in China, the US automaker is investing in a local expert: GM is putting around 300 million dollars into Momenta from Beijing. The company specializes in developing AI algorithms for autonomous driving. Moreover, GM and Cruise are cooperating with Honda. As part of this, a test program was launched in September 2022 to create a high-resolution map in the Japanese cities of Utsunomiya and Haga using a mapping vehicle. The vehicle Cruise Origin, developed by the three partners, is then to be transferred into an autonomous mobility service by Honda.

Honda and Sony present prototype

Honda was still a pioneer with the traffic jam pilot on SAE Level 3. The automaker already received the type designation for the Honda Legend according to the SAE standard J3016 in November 2020. However, the technology has not yet made it beyond the Japanese borders. In this, Valeo, a European company, was mainly responsible. The supplier contributed a powerful on-board control unit and a large part of the sensors. A total of five Scala Lidar sensors and two front cameras monitor the vehicle environment. Additionally, software generates a detailed 360-degree representation and enables object recognition, data fusion, as well as safety-relevant functions such as self-diagnosis and fail-safe operation.

The latest project in the field of autonomous driving, Honda is tackling with Sony. The resulting prototype Afeela was presented by the automaker at CES 2023. It is equipped with a total of 45 cameras and sensors and will be operating at SAE Level 2+ in urban traffic and under certain conditions also at Level 3. Pre-orders for the electric car are expected to begin in the first half of 2025, with sales planned by the end of 2025 and deliveries starting in spring 2026 in North America.

The know-how gained in the development of these Level 3 systems is being used by Honda for its safety and driver assistance system Sensing 360. In addition to the wide-angle camera, five millimeter-wave radar units at the front and corners of the vehicle enable 360-degree environmental detection. The system was already introduced in China in 2022, and a cross-model rollout in all core markets is planned by 2030. Furthermore, the automaker is working on an AI-based driver assistance system that predicts risks and driving errors, optimally adjusts driving behavior, and provides individually tailored support. It is supposed to be based on an fMRI procedure (functional magnetic resonance imaging) to study brain activities and use data from driver monitoring cameras, driving patterns, and the car's sensors. The system is expected to hit the market in the second half of the decade.

Ford Blue Cruise now also in Germany

At the end of August 2023, Ford received approval from the Federal Motor Transport Authority to use Blue Cruise technology in Germany. With it, drivers are allowed to take their hands off the steering wheel on certain sections of numerous federal highways (so-called Blue Zones) - Level 2+ is thus achieved. However, an infrared camera installed behind the steering wheel constantly monitors the driver's eyes, as they are still required to observe the traffic situation. Initially, the technology will only be available in the Mustang Mach-E.

Previously, the US automaker made headlines mainly with the end of its collaboration with Argo AI. After Ford invested billions in Argo AI in 2017, the chapter ended in the fall of 2022. Early on, the first test vehicles were on the road in places like MCity, a test area at the University of Michigan. Tests on public roads in Washington DC or Miami were also added. Now, the US manufacturer is no longer continuing its investments in the specialist for autonomous driving. Instead, the automaker is focusing on so-called REM technology (Road Experience Management) from Mobileye for hands-free driving. It is intended to enable a hands-free driver assist in future versions of Ford BlueCruise. At the same time, the two partners are working on a joint open platform so that Ford can develop and integrate its own solutions in the future.

Zeekr dances at two weddings

The electric brand Zeekr holds a special position within the Geely Group, as it tackles autonomous cars and shuttles simultaneously. The Zeekr 001 was the first to use Mobileye's SuperVision - an ADAS solution based on EyeQ5 SoCs and eleven cameras. Currently, it includes common features such as Adaptive Cruise Control, traffic sign and light recognition, as well as lane change and emergency braking assistance. In September 2023, the OEM enabled new, highly automated driving assistance functions for 110,000 Zeekr 001 units via an over-the-air update. The update of the driving assistance system has already received good reviews from initial testers. The main features of the NZP include automatic point-to-point navigation on highways, lane changes, and an assistant for automatic highway entry and exit. Owners of the ZEEKR 009 are expected to receive a similar OTA later this year. In addition to the Zeekr 009, which launched in China at the beginning of 2023, models from three other Geely brands are also expected to benefit from the Intel subsidiary's technology in the future. However, whether the leap to SAE Level 4 will actually be achieved by 2024 remains to be seen.

However, dedicated to SAE Level 4 and higher is the Zeekr M-Vision Concept. It is the product of a collaboration with Google's subsidiary Waymo and is intended to be used as a people mover and logistics vehicle. The basis for this is not the Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) of the aforementioned cars, but the further developed SEA-M architecture. The interior of the vehicle presented at CES 2023 is individually customizable - including the steering wheel and pedals. Because before the unmanned version goes into production, a safety driver is initially expected to be on board in the Waymo fleet.

Autonomous driving remains a core theme at Volvo

Although the cooperation between Volvo and Uber was ended after severe setbacks, the Geely subsidiary is still considered a pioneer in autonomous driving. The development of a robotaxi is instead being continued as part of the Waymo partnership. Unlike Zeekr, Volvo relies on SoCs from Nvidia for its latest cars - including the new EX90, which is already prepared for automated driving at Level 3 to 4. The all-electric SUV features the automaker's current assistance system: the Ride Pilot. This is based on AI-supported software from Zenseact, which is continuously fed with real data, enabling machine learning. Technology partner Luminar contributed a lidar sensor, which complements five radars, eight cameras, and sixteen ultrasonic sensors. Google provided an HD map specifically developed for automotive applications.

The fully autonomous mode of the Ride Pilot is currently in the data collection phase, according to the manufacturer. "We are proud to announce the planned market launch of our first truly unsupervised, autonomous driving model in the USA," says Mats Moberg, Head of Research and Development at Volvo Cars. Once the technical and legal conditions are met, the assistance system can be activated for a fee.

Polestar relies on Luminar and Mobileye

At Polestar, the Swedes are taking a similar path: The Polestar 3 is equipped with the same system and is expected to be delivered with a lidar from 2024. However, the sensor setup is somewhat sparser than that of the sister brand. Only five cameras, five radar modules, and twelve ultrasonic sensors are on board. In addition, the automaker and Luminar have extended their partnership to the Polestar 5. It is also expected for 2024, but with the new 3D laser scanning technology. In the development of the Polestar 4, the Swedes rely on Mobileye as a partner. The systems called SuperVision and Chauffeur feature Mobileye's EyeQ System-on-Chip, RSS-based driving strategies, a 360-degree surround camera system, and a REM-supported Roadbook map. Chauffeur extends SuperVision with the latest EyeQ6 System-on-Chip along with next-generation active radar and lidar sensors, providing the additional sensor layer required for autonomous operation without line of sight.

Toyota takes a holistic approach

Toyota has also gained increasing experience in the field of autonomous driving in recent years and tested its systems on public roads. Since spring 2022, the automaker has intensified its commitment: With Advanced Drive, a highly automated system has been available for the new model generation of the Toyota Mirai and the Lexus LS 500h, which not only maintains the lane and distance but also changes lanes and overtakes other road users. With the help of artificial intelligence, it is supposed to predict various situations and then warn the driver or intervene itself. Radar and camera technology for automated driving at Level 2 and Level 2+ are supplied by ZF and Mobileye. The basis for autonomous driving functions is created by the operating system from Apex.AI, according to the OEM.

In its pilot projects, however, Toyota also had to face setbacks, such as when the operation of autonomous e-shuttles at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo was halted after an accident occurred. In addition, the volume manufacturer is primarily pursuing a holistic approach that includes the infrastructure. In the future, the technologies are to be tested under real conditions in the model city Woven City - for which the foundation stone was laid in 2021. Among other things, autonomous multipurpose vehicles would be used there, serving not only for passenger transport but also as mobile shops or offices. These activities are bundled in Woven Planet Holdings, which, along with its subsidiaries and the TRI-AD research institute, is also working on the open platform Arene and the Automated Mapping Platform (AMP).

Renault does not aim for Level 3 cars

Although Renault announced in May 2024 that it would soon present a Level 4 vehicle for public transport, the French are focusing on Levels 2 and 2+ for individual transport. There is a significant difference in technological requirements between automation level 2 and autonomy level 3, as the vehicle must be able to travel safely in complex environments with limited driver supervision, according to the OEM. "However, the demand for vehicles of such an autonomy level is likely to be completely insufficient to non-existent given the costs for end customers," predicts the French car manufacturer.

By 2026, the alliance of Renault, Nissan, and Mitsubishi aims to equip more than ten million vehicles in 45 models with autonomous driving systems. To achieve this goal, a common architecture is to be developed under Renault's leadership, and insights from collaboration with Google's sister company Waymo will be utilized. Nissan itself has already presented the ProPilot 2.0 for the Skyline model, which operates on highways at the border of SAE Level 3.

The beginning is marked by an improved collision detection system that Nissan introduced in June 2023. Using Lidar sensors, it is supposed to analyze the speed and position of road users at complex intersections and, if necessary, initiate emergency braking. "We are well on our way to developing a collision avoidance system by the mid-2020s that uses next-generation Lidar sensors," explains Takao Asami, who, as Senior Vice President, leads the automaker's research and development.

Since the end of 2019, the Japanese OEM has also been gaining experience with autonomous cars in the United Kingdom. The Nissan Leaf used in the Human Drive project covered a distance of 370 kilometers with the involvement of the University of Leeds and Hitachi. In the ServCity project, the model also serves as a technology carrier: After months of development, simulation, and testing on private test tracks, it has been tested in London city traffic since October 2022. Hitachi is also involved again. The company contributed technologies for predicting the behavior of road users and localization solutions.

Lucid Air receives ADAS features via update

Lucid Motors combines its ADAS features under the name DreamDrive Pro and has been using the Nvidia Drive Hyperion technology since the delivery of the Lucid Air. The system of the electric car includes 32 sensors - consisting of 14 cameras, a lidar, as well as five radar and 12 ultrasonic sensors. New functions are to be rolled out with the help of over-the-air updates made possible by Nvidia Drive, emphasizes Michael Bell, Senior Vice President of Digital at Lucid. The latest update included, among other things, a Highway Assist with lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control.

Vinfast appoints ZF as system partner

In addition to the established players in the industry, relatively young players like the Vietnamese car manufacturer Vinfast are also trying to play a role in the field of autonomous mobility. For this purpose, the OEM is cooperating with the Friedrichshafen supplier ZF. Through the collaboration, automated driving and parking functions of level 2+ are to be introduced in the coming years, and the collaboration for level 3 and higher is to be intensified in the future.

ZF will become an important system partner for the car manufacturer, providing multiple camera, radar, and LiDAR sensors as well as the intelligent fusion of these sensors, which are networked in a central control unit by the Friedrichshafen-based company. ZF has realized the systems for VinFast with its international development teams in China, Germany, and North America. Vinfast has been gradually bringing the solutions for automated driving and the corresponding Level 2+ assistance functions to the market since mid-2022.

Fisker uses 4D Imaging Radar from Magna

It has been quiet for some time around Fisker Orbit - a fully autonomous shuttle. Instead, the newcomer focused on the production start of the Fisker Ocean, which began in November 2022. Although the SUV operates at SAE Level 2 with the Fisker Intelligent Pilot, it still sets new standards. The ADAS system consists of five 4D radars from Magna, in addition to cameras and ultrasonic sensors. The list of features is impressive, even if not a milestone in the industry: It includes lane-keeping, lane-changing, speed and traffic jam assistants, steering assistance, Adaptive Drive Control, traffic sign and traffic light recognition, as well as parking aids.

Hyundai moves to Level 4 in passenger operations

In 2021, Hyundai presented a robotaxi based on the electric Ioniq 5, which drives at SAE Level 4 using cameras, lidar, and radar. The robotaxi, developed in collaboration with the Aptiv joint venture Motional, operates without a driver and is based on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). It is expected to begin service in 2024, and since February 2022, it has been bookable during the day via the Via app in Las Vegas. Whether the planned partnership with Lyft will continue is unclear.

At CES 2023, Hyundai also showcased the M.VISION TO prototype. The box-shaped vehicle is a mobility solution offering scalable forms and sizes to meet various purposes. It aims to contribute to the OEM's long-term goal of becoming a provider of mobility platforms that combine electrification, autonomous driving, and connectivity.

R7 becomes SAIC's technology flagship

As early as December 2021, SAIC announced the operational start of the SAIC Mobility Robotaxi in China - a service at SAE Level 4. The vehicles developed by the passenger car division, the OEM's AI Lab, and the tech company Momenta offer a computing power of 600 trillion operations per second and rely on 'Vision plus Radar' for 3D perception, data fusion, and redundancy. Additionally, Momenta announced that instead of a deterministic approach, deep learning would be used to improve the algorithms as quickly as possible.

Production vehicles and robotaxis share their data, providing '100 billion kilometers of test data.' The latest fleet of Level 4 robotaxis is expected to be a collaboration between the SAIC AI Lab and Pony.AI. The partners' concept vehicle is equipped with 17 sensors and a 'foldable' steering wheel. A specific timeline for integration into the ride-hailing fleet was not mentioned, but SAIC is targeting mass production of robotaxis for the year 2025.

In the case of passenger cars, the R series currently forms the spearhead of the portfolio. Over 400,000 kilometers have been tested with it in automated driving mode at high speed. At the end of 2022, ZF delivered its full-range radar for the Chinese models. This makes SAIC one of the first manufacturers to install the new technology in its vehicles. Previously, Fisker had introduced a comparable sensor for the Ocean. The sensor setup of the R7 is complemented by the Iris lidar and Luminar's Sentinel software. The latter helps with object detection, classification, and tracking.

Nio is still at the beginning of autonomous driving

Nio is initially focusing on specific scenarios such as battery swapping for automated driving, but also has highways, urban areas, and parking in mind. Nio Autonomous Driving (NAD) has been available in China as a subscription service since the fourth quarter of 2023 and is to be gradually expanded from then on. For this purpose, the Chinese manufacturer relies on eleven cameras, five millimeter-wave radars, twelve ultrasonic sensors, and a 1,500 nanometer ultra-long-range lidar. The data generated - 8GB per second - is processed by four Nvidia Drive Orin SoCs with 1,016 TOPS. From 2024, sensors and chips will then become part of a unified all-in-one platform. On a larger scale, however, driving will not be automated until 2030, according to the e-car manufacturer at Nvidia GTC 2022.

This article was first published at automotiveit.eu