BMW also promises a counterpart to Tesla FSD/TAD, which will be available in 2027 [video]. For now, Tesla and Xpeng are doing better at this.

BMW has highlighted the capabilities of its City Assistant system, an autonomous feature that can drive a car on urban roads along a route designated by navigation, from one address to another. This software is set to be installed in the latest BMW models by 2027; it has already been tested in Munich, Germany. The video prepared by the manufacturer shows it performing even worse than Tesla’s TAD/FSD or Xpeng’s VLA 2.0.

BMW City Assistant Up Close

The system’s presentation consists of two separate videos that we have combined into one. The first part shows a simple drive through the city from the perspective inside the cabin, while the second part includes various shots demonstrating, among other things, the way it communicates and the vehicle’s appearance from the outside. We’ll start, of course, with the video:

The manufacturer decided to keep a segment where a human takes control to avoid showing the van (the opening illustration). A rather amusing moment follows, as the Volkswagen turning right brushes against the curb, while no similar disturbance is seen in the BMW. This situation is interesting because it shows us that the car does not render traffic lights, and human figures appear on screen only when they are directly in front of the vehicle — but the software must be able to see them, as it slowly drives onto the lanes:

The BMW i3 turning right at an intersection. Note the absence of human figures on screen and the number of cars on the other lane compared to what the car renders.

The system must be capable of handling intersections, including roundabouts. The video shows it can change lanes, wait for an open spot in the desired lane, stop at red lights, and proceed at green lights. As a driver-assistance system at SAE Level 2, it requires constant supervision from the driver, just like Tesla’s TAD/FSD or Mercedes’ MB.Drive Assist Pro. Some of the options are already available in Germany, with the full system set to be deployed in early 2027.

In urban driving, the driver’s fingers remain on the steering wheel, but only on highways does the Highway Assistant (a message on the screen) activate, allowing the hands to rest on the thighs (level 3 system). All indications suggest that Qualcomm is the provider of this system. The certification confirming compliance with UNECE R171 regulations is expected to be issued early next year.

Editor’s note from Elektrowozu: Tesla’s efforts in the EU forum somewhat “helped” BMW and Mercedes accelerate their work

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