BMW’s China operation has initiated its efforts to develop Level 3 automated driving technology for the local market, potentially enabling users to watch live streams and play games with the in-vehicle information and entertainment systems, according to an announcement published Thursday. The German luxury carmaker stated its intention to globally release the autonomous system by the end of this year, and it has commenced validating the technology in China in compliance with local regulators’ requirements. This announcement follows Volkswagen’s recent statement, wherein the company revealed its plans to incorporate Xpeng Motors’ technology into its upcoming new models, as part of a substantial $700 million investment into the Chinese EV maker. Level 3 autonomy conditionally permits drivers to take their eyes off the road and hands off the wheel at low speeds to focus on activities other than driving, according to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) rating. [BMW announcement, in Chinese]
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