- Most advanced “eyes-off” today (EU): Mercedes-Benz DRIVE PILOT (L3) in Germany, now certified up to 95 km/h on motorways under specific conditions. (The Verge)
- Second L3 option: BMW Personal Pilot L3 (7-Series), eyes-off up to 60 km/h (traffic-jam motorways), Germany only. (BMW Group PressClub)
- ———————————————————————————————————————-
- Widest EU coverage for hands-free L2 today: Ford BlueCruise, approved across 15 European countries (incl. runs from Sweden to Italy on “Blue Zones”). (fromtheroad.ford.com)
- Best premium hands-free L2 dynamics: BMW Highway Assistant (L2) hands-free up to 130 km/h with eye-glance lane change (availability varies by model/market). (BMW Group)
- Tesla FSD (Supervised) in Europe: expanding test programs but still L2 supervised; broader highway capability may improve after UNECE rule updates in late 2025, yet approvals remain fragmented. (Tesla)
- L2 = helper. The car assists you — you’re still the driver.
(Think: co-pilot, not autopilot.) - L3 = temporary chauffeur. The car drives itself — but only in certain areas and conditions.
Comparison matrix (EU focus, Oct 2025)
| Brand / Stack | SAE Level (now) | “Hands/eyes” status | Where it works (EU) | Notable capabilities | Near-term EU outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes DRIVE PILOT | L3 | Eyes-off up to 95 km/h (Germany), strict conditions | Germany (EQS/S-Class/EQE/E-Class trims w/ option; check spec) | Certified L3 motorway following w/ turquoise light indicator; driver can watch media when active | Rollout beyond Germany discussed; speed target up to 130 km/h longer-term, but needs approvals. (The Verge) |
| BMW Personal Pilot L3 (7-Series) | L3 | Eyes-off up to 60 km/h (motorway traffic jams) | Germany (7-Series/i7) | First L3 usable in the dark; lidar + HD map stack | No confirmed multi-country EU rollout yet. (BMW Group PressClub) |
| BMW Highway Assistant | L2 | Hands-free, eyes-on up to ~130 km/h (model/market dependent) | Available on i5/5-Series, iX, etc., in supported markets | Glance-to-confirm Active Lane Change; strong lane centering at speed | Continues expanding across models; still L2 (driver responsible). (BMW USA) |
| Ford BlueCruise | L2 | Hands-free, eyes-on in mapped Blue Zones | 15 European countries (incl. route Sweden→Italy on motorways) for Mustang Mach-E | Subscription after 90-day trial; wide EU coverage for hands-free highway | Coverage/roads expanding; remains L2. (fromtheroad.ford.com) |
| Tesla FSD (Supervised) | L2 | Hands-on/eyes-on (driver supervision) | Limited tests/pilots in several EU countries; mainstream release still constrained | End-to-end NN stack (v12/13), urban turns/roundabouts in supervision; EU typically requires confirmations | UNECE rule changes enabling more automated lane changes enter into force Sep 26, 2025; broader EU use still depends on national approvals. (Tesla) |
| GM Super Cruise | L2 | Hands-free, eyes-on on mapped roads | Not yet EU-marketed; NA only | Very polished geofenced hands-free incl. lane change on mapped roads | GM signalled interest to bring to Europe (as early as 2025), but no formal EU availability yet. (chevrolet.com) |
| XPeng XNGP | L2+/L2 (China) | Urban + highway navigation w/ minimal HD maps | EU launch of NGP outside China planned ~2026 | Strong city stack in China; camera-first since 2024 | EU rollout targeted for Q4 2026; not a 2025 EU option. (Autoshift Byte) |
| ZEEKR NZP (Mobileye SuperVision) | L2+ (China) | Navigate-on-pilot (China), evolving in EU | ZEEKR in EU uses Mobileye SuperVision hardware today; NZP features mainly China | High-quality lane changes, point-to-point in CN | Mobileye-Porsche/Zeekr collabs suggest richer EU functions coming on future models. (Mobileye) |
| Volvo Pilot Assist / “Ride Pilot” vision | L2 today (EX90) | Lane centering + ACC; lidar for future | EX90 in EU; software still maturing | Lidar (Luminar) + Nvidia Orin platform for future supervised automation | Volvo has flagged ongoing software updates; eyes-off features not yet enabled in EU production. (The Verge) |
What this means if you’re buying in Sweden (right now)
- You want real “eyes-off” in Europe today: You’ll need a German-registered car and routes inside Germany. Mercedes DRIVE PILOT is the clear leader due to its 95 km/h L3 approval. BMW’s L3 is excellent in jams but limited to 60 km/h. (The Verge)
- You want the broadest hands-free coverage across the EU (including Sweden): Ford BlueCruise is the only one with multi-country approval spanning 15 EU countries and explicit Sweden↔Italy corridors. It’s L2 (you’re responsible), but coverage and convenience are class-leading. (fromtheroad.ford.com)
- You value the best premium L2 driving manners: BMW Highway Assistant is superb for long-distance comfort (hands-free up to ~130 km/h where supported) with slick eye-glance lane changes—but availability depends on model and local approval. (BMW USA)
- Tesla specifically: In Sweden/EU, even with pilots, FSD remains supervised L2. Lane-change automation without confirmation may ease after UNECE rule changes taking effect 26 Sep 2025, but you’ll still face national approval steps. Expect features to improve, not magically convert to eyes-off. (Tesla)
Sensors & approach (quick notes)
- Mercedes/BMW L3: Camera + radar + lidar, HD maps, driver camera; heavy ODD constraints but allow eyes-off within them. (BMW Group PressClub)
- BMW Highway Assistant & Ford BlueCruise (L2): Camera/radar stacks + attentive driver monitoring (infrared camera). Hands-free but eyes-on. (BMW USA)
- Tesla FSD (Supervised): Vision-only (post-2022 in EU HW4), NN-first, rapid OTA cadence; still L2 under EU law. (Tesla)
- Mobileye SuperVision (Zeekr/Porsche future): camera-centric with REM maps; strong navigate-on-pilot foundation, fast OEM uptake. (Porsche Newsroom)
Near-future watchlist (next 6–18 months)
- Germany: Mercedes may push for broader L3 coverage and higher speeds; BMW could expand L3 beyond the 7-Series. (Reuters)
- EU lane-change rules: UNECE amendments that enable more automated lane changes (for both L2 and L3 categories) enter into force 26 Sep 2025—expect OEMs (esp. Tesla, BMW, Ford) to unlock smoother motorway automation in compliant markets thereafter. National approvals still required. (Notatesla App)
- GM Super Cruise: GM has signalled EU ambitions; watch Cadillac’s re-entry timetables, but nothing concrete on-sale in EU yet. (blue News)
- China → Europe tech transfer: XPeng’s XNGP and Zeekr/Mobileye NZP/SuperVision capabilities are likely to arrive in 2026+ waves. (Autoshift Byte)
Perfect — here’s a clear, real-world explanation of what Autopilot Level 2 and Level 3 (L2 vs L3) actually mean, especially for EVs in Europe.
🚘 SAE “Levels of Driving Automation” — simplified
| Level | Name (short) | Who’s legally responsible | Can you take eyes off? | Can you take hands off? | Typical example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | No automation | Driver | ❌ | ❌ | Manual driving |
| 1 | Driver assist | Driver | ❌ | ✅ (briefly) | Adaptive Cruise or Lane Keep |
| 2 | Partial automation | Driver | ❌ (eyes must watch) | ✅ (in some cars) | Tesla Autopilot, Ford BlueCruise, BMW Highway Assist |
| 3 | Conditional automation | Car (only in defined zone) | ✅ (can look away / do other things) | ✅ | Mercedes Drive Pilot, BMW Personal Pilot L3 |
| 4–5 | High/full automation | Car | ✅ | ✅ | Robotaxis (Waymo, Cruise etc.) — not legal for sale in EU yet |
⚙️ What makes L2 vs L3 fundamentally different
| Area | Level 2 (Partial automation) | Level 3 (Conditional automation) |
|---|---|---|
| Responsibility | Driver is 100 % legally responsible — must supervise system at all times. | System is responsible while active — you may legally do other tasks (watch video, email etc.) until it asks you to take over. |
| Eyes | Must stay on road (infra-red camera monitors). | Can look away — car monitors environment itself. |
| Hands | Usually optional (hands-free allowed if camera confirms attention). | Optional — car manages all driving. |
| Sensor stack | Cameras + radar (sometimes lidar). | Always includes lidar, HD maps, redundancy (steering, braking, comms). |
| Operational design domain (ODD) | Works almost anywhere but driver must correct mistakes. | Works only in approved zones (e.g. motorways, good weather, < 95 km/h). Outside that, it shuts off. |
| Fallback | Driver takes control instantly when needed. | System warns and then hands back control safely; if no reaction, it must stop safely on its own. |
| Legal status in EU | Broadly allowed. | Allowed only after UNECE L3 approval per country (so far: Germany only). |
🇪🇺 Example in practice
| Scenario | Level 2 car (e.g. Tesla / Ford BlueCruise) | Level 3 car (e.g. Mercedes Drive Pilot) |
|---|---|---|
| Highway at 110 km/h | Car steers & accelerates but you must watch the road and keep ready to intervene. | Only works up to 95 km/h; when active, you can take eyes off — system handles everything. |
| Heavy traffic jam | You can let it roll but still must watch. | Car fully drives itself, brake-to-stop and go; you may legally look away. |
| System error | Driver is liable if accident occurs. | Car manufacturer is liable while L3 is active. |