BMW customers have driven more than 200 million kilometers hands-free with the BMW Highway Assistant, the automaker’s SAE Level 2 system that takes over steering and speed control on highways at speeds of up to 130 km/h. The function is used daily across several model ranges — including the 5 Series, 7 Series, iX, X5, X6, X7 and XM, as well as the new iX3 — and ranks among BMW’s automated driving functions. In the United States and Canada the feature is sold as the Highway Assistant; in the UK it is the Motorway Assistant.
Highlights
- Customers have driven more than 200 million kilometers hands-free with the system to date.
- Hands-free operation runs at speeds up to 130 km/h, with the system managing both longitudinal and lateral control.
- European availability is expanding from a single country to more than 20 following DCAS approval under UN Regulation No. 171.
- The system is classified as SAE Level 2; the driver remains responsible and is monitored by an in-car driver camera.
What the Highway Assistant Does
The Highway Assistant handles longitudinal and lateral control on highways, keeping the vehicle in its lane and managing speed up to 130 km/h. It also supports automated lane changes, which the driver confirms with a glance toward the relevant mirror.
Expansion Across Europe
With BMW’s new generation of driver assistance systems, availability of the Highway Assistant in Europe is growing from one country to more than 20. The expansion follows the company’s DCAS approval under UN Regulation No. 171 for Driver Control Assistance Systems, which underpins hands-free assisted driving on suitable routes across European borders. When navigation is active through BMW Maps, the system now supports a route from the motorway entrance to the exit, a capability BMW calls entry-2-exit.
Cross-border hands-free driving is launching with the new iX3 and subsequent models such as the i3 and 7 Series. The rollout is phased:
- Available now: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and the Benelux countries.
- Following shortly: the UK, Ireland, Spain and Portugal.
- Later: Northern, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.
The previous generation was offered in Germany, the United States and Canada.
A Safety Concept Built on Redundancy
Hands-free driving with the Highway Assistant rests on a redundant safety architecture. Lane detection and vehicle positioning run through cameras and high-resolution maps, and the system uses its side cameras to continuously check that the vehicle stays centered in its lane. A dedicated safety chip on the ADAS computer monitors that the system is functioning correctly.
The driver remains responsible at all times. A driver-facing camera tracks line of sight, eye status and head movements to confirm the driver is alert and ready to take over, and the system limits hands-free use to suitable conditions. When needed — for example, on the approach to a motorway exit — it prompts the driver to return their hands to the wheel.
Symbiotic Drive in the New iX3
For the new generation of vehicles, beginning with the iX3, BMW has further developed the assistant with BMW Symbiotic Drive. With assistance active, the driver can accelerate, steer or brake without immediately switching off longitudinal and lateral guidance, and the controls and displays in the BMW Panoramic iDrive are designed to keep the driver in command. BMW describes the result as the safe use of the highest level of automation within SAE Level 2.
Dr Mihiar Ayoubi, Senior Vice President Driving Experience Development, said: “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.”
Sign up for our weekly emails to stay up to date on the latest news!
