BMW is taking on Tesla’s FSD with urban driver assist starting in 2027

BMW is expanding its navigation-guided, partially automated driving capabilities into urban environments starting in 2027, with the new system able to help steer, speed up, and slow down the vehicle on highways and city streets. The system, which will be available via software updates, will first launch in Germany and then roll out to other markets. On highways, drivers will be able to remove their hands from the steering wheel, but on local roads, they must keep their hands on the wheel. The system can assist with lane changes, turns, yielding to other cars, and driving through roundabouts, but still requires drivers to keep their eyes on the road and be ready to take over at any moment. The new feature is part of BMW's Neue Klasse platform, which includes a driver assist system partly powered by Qualcomm's technology. BMW is the latest automaker to commit to releasing a partially autonomous city driving feature, as the industry races to keep up with Tesla and its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. The system will show what it sees and what the assistance system is doing through the heads-up display and a clear 3D map on the dashboard.