BMW to offer highly automated driving from the end of the year

Take your hands off the wheel and eyes off the road and answer some emails: BMW is set to begin rolling this option out for some high-end cars later this year, following similar offerings from Ford and Mercedes. — Photo: Daniel Karmann/dpa

MUNICH: BMW is set to follow Mercedes-Benz in offering self-driving systems to luxury cars at home in Germany, allowing drivers to take their eyes off the road and watch a video under certain conditions.

"We have approval from the German Motor Transport Authority to offer level 3 automated driving in Germany," BMW division manager Nicolai Martin told Germany's business newspaper Handelsblatt. "The system will be introduced in the 7 Series later this year."