Audi quits bid to give A8 Level 3 autonomy

FRANKFURT -- Audi has abandoned plans to introduce its Level 3, eyes-off autonomous driving technology in its A8 flagship sedan, a senior executive told Automotive News Europe.

The feature, called Traffic Jam Pilot, was the most significant technological breakthrough added to the latest-generation A8 that debuted in 2017. At that time Audi said the system would only be activated in markets where governments allowed it.

Since then, global regulators in Geneva have still not agreed on a type approval process for even the most rudimentary Level 3 functionality. At that level a vehicle can be put in auto pilot under certain circumstances, allowing the driver to take his eyes off the road.

Given the various regulatory delays, Audi says it won't have sufficient time to make its Level 3 system compliant in the A8, whose facelifted version is due to arrive next year already.

"We will not see the Traffic Jam Pilot on the road with its originally planned Level 3 functionality in the current model generation of the Audi A8 because our luxury sedan has already gone through a substantial part of its model life cycle," Audi Technical Development boss Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler told Automotive News Europe.

All other current production vehicles, including a forthcoming new flagship from Lexus, offer Level 2 autonomy, which provides assistance but requires the driver to remain in control of the vehicle at all times.

Audi had expected the A8 would be the first production car to have the eyes-off conditional autonomy available to private customers. (Waymo  launched its Level 4 robocar taxi service Waymo One in Phoenix in December 2018, but this driverless technology is not available commercially).

The setback for Audi means it could end up trailing its its German rivals, if they keep their promises to launch Level 3 or higher systems in this new-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan due this year and the BMW iNEXT crossover due in 2021.

Rothenpieler cited problems getting regulatory approval for the Traffic Jam Pilot, which when operating would automatically transfer liability in the event of an accident from the driver to the manufacturer.

"Currently, there is no legal framework for Level 3 automated driving and it is not possible to homologate such functions anywhere in the world in a series production car," Rothenpieler said.

Audi initially planned for Traffic Jam Pilot to have restricted functionality, only capable of use on highways separated from oncoming traffic at speeds of up to 60 kph (37 mph). While the benefit may seem limited, drivers would no longer be responsible at all for operating the vehicle during periods of heavy, stop-and-go traffic, leaving them free to read, stream a movie or play video games as the vehicle drove itself.