The 2023 7-Series has been spied testing on a handful of occasions in recent months and will apparently be previewed by a concept in the coming months. It will feature some controversial styling updates and will use a Level 3 self-driving system.
BMW director of development Frank Weber confirmed the use of such a system while recently speaking with Forbes. “Level 3 you will see from us in the 7 Series next year,” Weber said. “It’s a function you can buy. It will be ready to go at the launch of the 7 Series.”
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Level 3 autonomous driving systems allow a vehicle to drive itself under limited conditions, but the driver will still have to be ready to take over when necessary. Weber added that other BMW models, including the X5, X7, 5-Series, and all-electric iX will also receive the Level 3 system.
However, while the new 7-Series will have all of the technology required of a Level 3 system next year, legislation in the U.S. means that it won’t actually be available to local buyers. In Europe, Level 3 regulation has already been established that puts the liability of crashes on the insurance of automakers themselves (or their insurance underwriters), but different regulations around the world will prevent car manufacturers from claiming Level 3 status for the time being, Weber said.
“In the next years you will not see a single launch where somebody says here’s my car and it’s Level 3,” Weber said, when speaking about current regulations about such systems. “It takes 435 million miles simulated and in real life to say [that] our system drives safer than a human driver. When you have the vehicle introduction, with a stable product it takes at least a year to finalize Level 3.”
