BMW Gets Green Light for ‘Hands-Off’ Highway Driving in Major First – Here’s How It Works

Why It Matters

The regulatory clearance removes legal barriers that have confined hands‑off driving to Germany, accelerating the rollout of higher‑level autonomous functions across Europe and strengthening BMW’s competitive position in the autonomous‑driving market.

Summary

BMW became the first automaker to obtain approval under the new UN Regulation No. 171 for Driver Control Assistance Systems, enabling its Level 2 Motorway Assistant to be offered in a broader range of markets. The system, featured on the upcoming iX3 ‘Neue Klasse’, allows hands‑off driving up to 130 km/h, automatically maintaining speed, changing lanes and stopping at red lights while monitoring traffic for hazards. It integrates with BMW’s latest iDrive and a full‑width head‑up display, and will receive additional capabilities via over‑the‑air updates. The approval also paves the way for more advanced “eyes‑off” features across Europe.