EN
BMW plans to extend its navigation-based driver assistance to city streets from 2027, starting in Germany. With an active route, it is intended to help with turns, lane changes, junctions and roundabouts. This is SAE Level 2 assistance: the driver must monitor the road and remain ready to take control.
On 2 November 2026, BMW said an independent technical service had completed the required real-traffic tests. The company expects formal approval in early 2027. The announcement does not mean the new functions are already approved or available to customers.
What the system is intended to do in town
With BMW Maps route guidance active, the system is designed to assist with turns, urban lane changes, priority situations and roundabouts. Automatic stopping and moving off at traffic lights is already available in the existing City Assistant in some countries, including Germany, BMW says.
The system is available during a journey only when the car determines that the driver is attentive. BMW Symbiotic Drive allows the driver to steer, brake and accelerate while assistance is active. The driver remains responsible for monitoring traffic.
Which cars will receive the update
BMW says the required hardware is standard on the new iX3 and iX4 and all variants of the X5, 3 Series and 7 Series. The software is intended to arrive over the air, and the company also refers to many future models. Dates and conditions for individual markets after Germany have not been announced.
A successful test and final approval are separate stages. BMW says the system must receive formal approval under updated UNECE R171 requirements for DCAS Series 2. Until then, the urban functions should not be described as launched.
How the driver will see the assistance
BMW Panoramic Vision will show the system status in the driver's field of view. A new BMW Maps view on the central screen combines the route, surroundings and assistance status in a three-dimensional display. It is an interface for monitoring the assistance, not a substitute for an attentive driver.
