The first European manufacturer Volkswagen and the equipment manufacturer Bosch announced Monday to aim at 2026 to finalize their autonomous driving technology. It would also be offered for entry -level models.
The two German groups are developing a “software battery” based on artificial intelligence, “ready to be used in production projects from mid-2026,” they said in a joint statement.
First reserved for the highway
This level 2+ level, which authorizes the driver to temporarily let go of the steering wheel while remaining vigilant, will first be reserved for the highway.
A level 3 technology – the vehicle drives alone in certain specific situations and allows the driver to no longer monitor the road – is also planned, but without calendar for the moment.
In Germany, Mercedes-Benz and BMW have already sold level 3 autonomous driving systems, billed around 6000 euros on their high-end models, the 7 and class S series. The latter will allow 2025 to rise to 95 km/h with the eyes closed.
But for Volkswagen and Bosch, it is a question of putting autonomous driving “available to millions of drivers, from the consumer segment to the premium segment”, explains the press release, without disclosing prices.
In case of delay …
In the event of delay at Volkswagen, autonomous driving technology could be marketed upstream for other manufacturers, according to an internal source at Bosch.
Launched in 2022, the partnership aims to propel the two manufacturers in the race for autonomous driving, facing companies born in this area such as the Americans Tesla and Waymo.
The Stellantis group announced last February that it would soon offer cars equipped with a level 3 system up to 60 km/h under certain conditions.
