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.
Audi quits bid to give A8 Level 3 autonomy
With no indication on the specific requirements for a Level 3 autonomy, Audi says it won't have sufficient time to make its eyes-off autonomous system compliant in the A8, which is due for a face-lift next year.
This image shows how the A8's Level 3 autonomous system was supposed to tell the driver to take back control.
Thus far all current systems on the market such as Tesla’s Autopilot and Super Cruise from General Motors are Level 2. At best, they are able to steer themselves, but require the driver to monitor the surroundings constantly and be prepared at a moment’s notice to assume control. Liability remains firmly with the individual behind the wheel.
Sources close to Audi told Automotive News Europe that corporate lawyers in particular have been critical of any Level 3 system, warning Audi executives that there are no guarantees customers would properly service the vehicle. Should an accident then occur while the car is piloting itself, Audi would be liable even if the system was still 99.9 percent safe at the time it was delivered to the customer.
In its annual 10-K regulatory filing to the SEC, Tesla attested to the problems. The U.S. electric automaker warned of the “likelihood of a patchwork of complex or conflicting regulations” that could delay or limit its full self-driving system, due to be launched at some point in the future, according to the company.
Automakers such as Volvo Cars consider the Level 3 driving mode "unsafe" and will "skip this level of autonomous driving,” CEO Hakan Samuelsson has said.
Rothenpieler agreed that the complications were significant obstacles on the way to even limited, eyes-off conditional autonomy. Therefore, Audi's focus has shifted to improving Level 2 driver-assistance systems that do not transfer any legal responsibility for the vehicle’s operation to the manufacturer at all.
Said Rothenpieler: “The euphoria in the auto industry around Level 3 has subsided substantially.”
