‘Everything has changed’: foreign auto groups embrace local technology in China

copacetic, 19 days ago

According to forecasts from Counterpoint Research, China will have 1mn cars with so-called Level 3 technology — which means drivers can remove their hands from the steering wheel — by 2026, and these vehicles will account for about 10 per cent of new cars by 2028.

Oh, here the author is not quite right. I assume he refers to SAE level 3. This is not about “remove their hands from the steering wheel”. If you still have to “constantly supervise” the car, you are still level 2. Some call “hands-off” as level 2.5, but it certainly isn’t enough for level 3.

So far, actual level 3 cars are only made by Honda, Mercedes, and BMW. The upgrade costs thousands of dollars and is only available in few luxury cars.

I can imagine 1mn “hands-off” cars in 2026 but not “level 3”.

sabreW4K3, 19 days ago

Tesla’s being able to report themselves as Full Self-Driving despite only being level two should be illegal.

If Honda, BMW and Mercedes have the technology, why are they limiting it to so few cars? Surely people with luxury cars have drivers already?

copacetic, 19 days ago

My guess, because it is too expensive for too little benefit. Nobody would buy it. Discussed here previously.

sabreW4K3, 8 days ago

The video posted today’s calls into question the proficiency of the Mercedes system