Automated Driving The End of Level 3: A Step Back or a Change of Course?

BMW and Mercedes are removing Level 3 from their lineups for now. Xpeng is demonstrating in Paris just how far Level 2++ has come. Why manufacturers are focusing on driver-assistance systems—and where driverless driving might first become a reality.

Suddenly, a Smart Fortwo is blocking our path: We come to a stop in the middle of a Parisian intersection. There’s enough room on the right to get past the two-seater, which is turning illegally. A human driver would briefly turn the steering wheel and keep going. But our Xpeng waits patiently for the road to clear, while cars behind us honk their horns. Finally, the driver behind the wheel steps in, steers the car around the obstacle, and then lets the computer take over again.