The Navigator

Since 2015, Elon Musk has been claiming that new Tesla vehicles would be capable of fully automated driving within a couple of years - with just software updates and pending regulatory approvals. Both parts of that statement were wrong. Tesla doesn't appear to be anywhere near producing vehicles capable of safe operation without human supervision. And until recently, regulations did not exist covering homologation of automated vehicles. However, with passage of a new rule covering Europe and much of Asia, AV regulations are finally starting to become a reality.

In late June 2020, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's (UNECE) World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations passed the first rules directly governing SAE Level 3 automated lane keeping systems. L2 systems like Tesla AutoPilot, GM Super Cruise and Ford's upcoming Active Drive Assist are becoming increasingly common. These systems nominally require the human driver to remain alert while supervising the automation - and being ready to take control at any time. This is sometimes referred to “hands-off, eyes-on, brain-on.”