Present status of self-driving vehicles
The introduction of level-4 autonomous taxis as a public transit alternative in cities is not expected to happen in Germany until the early 2030s. However, the landscape for autonomous vehicles is already changing, with some cities like Phoenix, Austin, and San Francisco using autonomous shuttle vehicles in spatially limited areas.
These vehicles, controlled by safety drivers who can intervene at any time, are part of a growing trend towards autonomous transportation. By the end of the decade, level-3 driving systems in private cars could be enabled on highways up to 130 km/h outside of Europe.
Christoph Hartung, responsible for autonomous driving and high-performance computers at Bosch, expects level-4 shuttles to be in regular operation in Germany only by the early 2030s. He also expects level-3 pilots for motorway speeds of 120 or 130 km/h to be available for purchase by the end of the 2020s.
Until then, level 2+ or 2++ assistive systems will bridge the gap, with drivers maintaining constant responsibility regardless of the technology's capabilities. In Europe, hands-free city driving at Level 2++ is not yet permitted, but Hartung expects this to change within the next two years.
Bosch, the world's largest supplier with over 40,000 software experts and global cooperations, is currently not able to achieve Level 5 autonomous mobility. However, the company has already brought to market in China a Level 2++ autonomous driving system developed by Bosch, which is specifically trained on Chinese traffic data, through the premium brand Exeed.
In Germany, level-3 autonomous driving is currently permitted on motorways up to speeds of 60 or 95 km/h, with the human driver responsible for initial operation. Germany's premium manufacturers like Mercedes and BMW offer level-3 autonomous driving systems with limited applications.
The use of robotaxis is currently far from profitable due to the need for chaperones to oversee multiple vehicles. Some vehicles from Google subsidiary Waymo already drive without a chaperone on board, but they are still controlled by operators in a control center.
Projects for level-4 shuttles in Europe, such as by VW subsidiary Moia, are currently only in the planning stage. Hartung's expectations for the future of autonomous driving are promising, but it is clear that the technology is still in its early stages and has a long way to go before it becomes commonplace in Germany.
At Bosch's Tech Day in Stuttgart in late June 2025, the performance of a new level 2++ driving aid was demonstrated, impressing with its reliability in heavy traffic and aggressive drivers. As the technology continues to develop, it is likely that we will see more and more autonomous vehicles on the roads in the coming years.
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