When I bought my current car (hybrid Mercedes E) a few years ago I predicted that “it would be the last car I bought which I would drive. My next car would need to drive me”. Around 2028 would probably be the right time to get a new car. In two years I will be 80. I can already observe my reactions slowing, attention span shortening, hearing slowly deteriorating and muscle memory slackening. By then a “car which drives me” may well be a necessity.
The SAE International (Society of Automotive Engineers) standard J3016 defines six levels of driving automation, ranging from Level 0 (no automation) to Level 5 (full automation).
Level 0: No Automation
- The human driver is fully responsible for all aspects of driving, including steering, braking, and accelerating.
- Systems: May include warnings (lane departure, blind spot) or momentary interventions like Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB).
- Driver Role: Full-time performance of all driving tasks.
Level 1: Driver Assistance
- The vehicle features a single automated system that assists with either steering or speed (acceleration/braking), but not both at once.
- Examples: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) or Lane Keeping Assist.
- Driver Role: Must monitor the road at all times and perform all other driving tasks.
Level 2: Partial Driving Automation
- The system can control both steering and speed simultaneously under certain conditions.
- Examples: Tesla Autopilot, GM Super Cruise, and Ford BlueCruise.
- Driver Role: Must remain fully engaged, monitor the environment, and be ready to take over instantly.
Level 3: Conditional Driving Automation
- The vehicle handles all driving tasks under specific, limited conditions (e.g., traffic jams), allowing the driver to disengage from monitoring.
- Example: Mercedes-Benz DRIVE PILOT.
- Driver Role: Must be available to resume control when requested. [5, 10, 11, 12]
Level 4: Full Automation
- The vehicle operates autonomously within defined, geofenced zones, not requiring human intervention for driving tasks, as defined in SAE standards.
- Examples: Robotaxis from companies like Waymo.
- Driver Role: None required within the designated area.
Level 5: High Driving Automation
- Level 5 vehicles require no human attentionand the driver is eliminated.
- No steering wheels or acceleration/braking pedals, free from geofencing, able to go anywhere and do anything that an experienced human driver can do.
- Fully autonomous cars are undergoing testing in several pockets of the world.
Currently, no truly “fully autonomous” cars (FSD or Level 5) that can drive anywhere without any human intervention are available for general sale. However, several come close and offer advanced semi-autonomous systems that could be called Supervised Fully Self Driving.
Tesla is the only manufacturer currently selling a system marketed as “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) across its entire consumer lineup. The videos I have seen demonstrate remarkable autonomy but it is formally (legally) still classified as Level 2 and must have constant driver supervision.
- Tesla self-classifies its systems (including FSD Supervised) as SAE Level 2 in communications with regulators.
- NHTSA investigations and documents treat Tesla’s systems as Level 2 partial automation, requiring a fully attentive driver.
- Level 2 systems face fewer strict regulations than higher levels (e.g., no special exemptions needed for deployment, unlike Level 3+), which is why they are the strategic choice to get the necessary approvals while gaining customer acceptance.
Tesla “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) (Supervised)
- Available Models: All current Tesla production models, including:
- Model 3
- Model Y
- Model S
- Model X
- Cybertruck
- Key Capabilities: Navigation from point-to-point on city streets and highways, responding to traffic lights and stop signs, and automated lane changes.
- Global Availability: Currently available in the U.S., Canada, China, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea.
Other Manufacturers with Advanced Autonomy
While only Tesla uses the “FSD” name, several other brands offer systems with similar or even more advanced (eyes-off) capabilities in specific regions:
- Mercedes-Benz (Level 3 – DRIVE PILOT): The first manufacturer to offer a certified Level 3 “eyes-off” system.
- Models: S-Class and EQS Sedan.
- Availability: Limited to specific highways in California and Nevada (USA) and Germany.
- BMW (Level 3 – Personal Pilot L3): Offers eyes-off driving at low speeds.
- Model: 7-Series.
- Availability: Currently available only in Germany.
- General Motors (Super Cruise): A robust hands-free highway system.
- Models: Includes the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Hummer EV, and Cadillac Escalade.
- Availability: North America (U.S. and Canada) on hundreds of thousands of miles of mapped highways.
- Ford (BlueCruise): Hands-free highway driving.
- Models: Mustang Mach-E, F-150, Expedition, and Explorer.
- Availability: North America (U.S. and Canada).
Scheduled 2026 Models with High-Level Autonomy
Several specialized Level 4 vehicles (designed to drive without human intervention in defined zones) are slated for release or expanded private ownership in 2026:
- Tesla Cybercab: A dedicated robotaxi without steering wheels or pedals, targeting volume production in 2026.
- Tensor Robocar: Marketed as the world’s first personal Level 4 autonomous vehicle, built in partnership with VinFast and targeting the U.S., Europe, and UAE.
- Lucid Gravity: Expected to offer Level 4 capabilities for private purchase through a partnership with Nuro.
If I were buying a car today I think the only available choice would be a Tesla (probably 80/20 in favour of a Model Y over a Cybertruck).
In 2 years though it could be a choice between a Mercedes and a Tesla (20/80 ?).
The k2p blog 