05:00 10-06-2026

BMW Highway Assistant goes mainstream: hands-free driving expands across Europe

BMW customers have logged over 200 million kilometres hands-free with the Highway Assistant. The next generation rolls out in the iX3 across more than 20 European countries.

BMW has reported a major milestone for its motorway driver assistance system: customers have already covered more than 200 million kilometres with the Highway Assistant, hands off the wheel. This isn’t an experimental fleet or a closed pilot, but real-world use of production cars.

The feature is available across several BMW lines, including the 5 Series, 7 Series, iX, X5, X6, X7, XM and the new iX3. The Highway Assistant operates on motorways at speeds of up to 130 km/h, takes over both longitudinal and lateral control, and can perform automated lane changes confirmed by a glance.

BMW emphasises that this is an SAE Level 2 system: the driver remains responsible and must be ready to intervene. An interior camera monitors gaze direction, eye state and head movement. If conditions become unsuitable or the car approaches an exit, the system asks the driver to take the wheel again.

The new generation of assistants expands the Highway Assistant’s European footprint from a single country to more than 20. Previously the system worked in Germany, the US and Canada; now, in the new BMW iX3 and subsequent models, it will be available on suitable motorways in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and the Benelux countries. The UK, Ireland, Spain and Portugal are set to follow.

Another change is the entry-2-exit mode with BMW Maps navigation active. In this scenario the assistant maintains control from the motorway entry to the exit, not just on straight stretches.

Safety is handled by a combination of cameras, high-definition maps and precise in-lane positioning, while a dedicated chip monitors the ADAS computer itself. In the new BMW Symbiotic Drive architecture, the driver can gently accelerate, steer or brake without immediately switching off longitudinal and lateral guidance.

“Over 200 million kilometres of hands-free motorway driving in real customer use shows just how reliable this system is in everyday life,” said BMW’s senior vice president for Driving Experience development, Dr Mihiar Ayoubi.

The real point here isn’t the loaded word “autopilot” but the quiet motorway routine. BMW is betting on assistance that takes the fatigue out of long drives without taking the responsibility away from the person behind the wheel.