The BMW Group has achieved a major milestone in automotive technology, becoming the first car manufacturer in Germany to receive international certification under the new UN Regulation No. 171 for Driver Control Assistance Systems (DCAS). This landmark approval allows the company to roll out its advanced Motorway Assistant across multiple European markets, setting a new standard in safe, intelligent, and user-focused Level 2 “hands-off” driving assistance.
The certification currently applies to the BMW iX3, but it also lays the groundwork for broader deployment across BMW’s lineup. This marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of semi-automated driving, as it demonstrates full alignment between BMW’s technology and the latest international safety and regulatory standards.
A Global Framework for Safer Automation
UN Regulation No. 171 provides a unified international framework for Level 2 driving systems that assist with steering, speed, and lane changes, while ensuring the driver remains actively engaged. By achieving compliance, BMW has become the benchmark for how advanced automation and human oversight can coexist in a safe and transparent way.
With the new approval, BMW can now equip more models with its Motorway Assistant without the need for individual country exemptions. The system enables “hands-off” driving on approved motorways, where the vehicle automatically maintains its lane, adjusts its speed, and performs lane changes when required. Drivers simply confirm lane changes with a glance at the side mirror, keeping interaction natural and intuitive.
When combined with BMW Maps route guidance, the Motorway Assistant proactively plans and executes lane changes for motorway exits and junctions. This ensures smooth, continuous assistance through complex traffic situations and transitions—enhancing both convenience and confidence behind the wheel.
BMW’s innovative approach has already earned recognition. The latest generation of the Motorway Assistant recently received the Tech Award for Comfort Assistance Systems from auto motor und sport, underlining BMW’s leadership in driver comfort and intelligent automation.
City Assistant Expands Urban Automation
BMW’s progress doesn’t stop on the motorway. The City Assistant—now available in the BMW iX3—extends semi-automated driving to urban environments. This system can automatically stop at red lights and restart when traffic resumes, bringing a new level of ease to city commuting. Additional urban functions will be introduced through over-the-air software updates, expanding the DCAS-approved capabilities to cover more real-world driving scenarios.
Symbiotic Drive: Where AI Meets Human Intuition
Complementing these advancements is the debut of BMW Symbiotic Drive, a next-generation concept that harmonizes artificial intelligence with driver intuition. First introduced in the BMW iX3 and soon to feature in upcoming Neue Klasse models, this system represents a seamless blend of human control and intelligent automation.
Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi, Senior Vice President of Driving Experience Development at BMW, described the philosophy behind the innovation:
“We are creating a perfect interplay between rule-based algorithms and artificial intelligence. The driver remains involved, our systems are controllable at all times, and their behaviour is reproducible.”
With DCAS certification, the expansion of the Motorway and City Assistants, and the introduction of Symbiotic Drive, BMW is not only shaping the future of assisted driving but also redefining the relationship between human drivers and intelligent machines.
