What We’re Reading
BMW is the first car manufacturer to receive approval for the combination of Level 2 and Level 3 autonomous driving (Automotive World, June 25, 2024)
BMW has received approval for a combination Level 2 driving assistance system and a Level 3 system in the same vehicle. The new BMW 7 series is exclusively available in Germany.
Features of Level 2 BMW Highway Assistant allow drivers to enjoy taking their hands off the wheel for longer periods at up to seeps of 81 mph. The sedan can make lane changes without the driver having to hold the wheel with the Active Lane Change Assistant. The driver can initiate a lane change by simply looking in the exterior mirror to confirm it.
In Level 3 BMW Personal Pilot, the driver can take their hands of the wheel and temporarily turn their attention off the road in certain conditions to other activities like reading, writing, making calls, working, or streaming videos. When activated, BMW Personal Pilot is capable of completely taking over the driving in specific situations like traffic jams at speeds up to 37 mph.
As with any automated driving system, the driver should be ready to take control of the car at a moment’s notice.
Tesla (TSLA) is expected to have tough quarter for deliveries again (Electrek, June 24, 2024)
Tesla is anticipated to face another challenging quarter for electric vehicle deliveries as estimates decline. The previous quarter saw a significant struggle with 386,810 deliveries—a 20% drop from the previous quarter and an 8.5% decrease year-over-year. Production issues, including ramp-ups at the Fremont factory and supply chain disruptions at Gigafactory Berlin, impacted output. However, demand concerns persist as these issues don’t fully account for the 46,000-vehicle gap between production and deliveries. Wall Street projects 450,000 deliveries this quarter, down from 466,000 last year, with expectations likely to decrease further. Europe has shown significant underperformance, being 60,000 units behind its record year pace. Despite these challenges, Tesla’s prospects in China are improving due to new incentives, while the outlook in the US is less clear but potentially boosted by federal tax credits for certain models.
Not quite ready for autonomous taxis? Teledriving could be a bridge (Tech Xplore, June 20, 2024)
Teledriving, where remote drivers operate vehicles via video feeds, presents a viable alternative to driverless taxis, enhancing ride-sharing efficiency and affordability. A University of Michigan study published in Management Science underscores teledriving’s potential. Companies like Halo.Car and Vay are already utilizing this technology. Teledriving allows quick vehicle dispatch to high-demand areas without requiring drivers to be physically present. This method can reduce idle times and the number of required drivers by 30-40%.
Teledriving could also transfer vehicle ownership costs to ride-share companies, making driving more inclusive and improving safety, particularly for women. Enhanced safety stems from separating drivers and riders, reducing risks of in-vehicle assaults. The study’s computer modeling shows teledriving can shorten wait times and reduce congestion. As full autonomy faces safety challenges, teledriving offers a practical bridge towards it, enhancing service accessibility and quality.