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Self-driving cars The five levels
of automated driving

11/05/21
Volkswagen Showcar I.D. CROZZ

The mobility of the future will be shaped by the automation of driving functions. Assistance systems are already in use in various areas – Volkswagen aims to enable fully-automated driving for large numbers of people in the high-volume sector. The crystallisation project being Trinity: the car will be available as of 2026 and will allow highly automated driving in line with level 2+ up to fully automated driving in line with level 4. But what exactly are the five different levels of automated driving? Allow us to explain.

Level 1: assisted driving
Level 2: partially automated driving
Level 3: highly automated driving
Level 4: fully automated driving
Level 5: autonomous driving

Level 1: assisted driving

At the first level of automated driving, the car provides support through initial driver assistance systems. This means that the driver remains fully responsible for driving, but with the aid of individual assistance systems for certain driving tasks in longitudinal control (such as accelerating and braking) or lateral control (steering). With supporting systems such as the anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC) or the automatic lane departure warning system, assisted driving is already part of everyday use in many cars.

Level 2: partially automated driving

Partially automated driving combines various stand-alone systems, enabling the car to temporarily perform some driving functions independently, both in longitudinal control and lateral control. For example, it can stay in a lane, accelerate and brake, without human intervention. At level 2, complex assistance systems such as Volkswagen IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist make life easier for drivers, while leaving them in full control of the car.

Level 3: highly automated driving

At level 3, cars drive themselves to a certain extent: The highly automated car can accelerate, brake and steer automatically. This occurs on certain stretches of the road, for a restricted period and in appropriate traffic situations, but this is the first point at which automated systems take on responsibility for driving in defined situations. So, the driver can relinquish control temporarily, but must be ready to take over again within a matter of seconds at all times if required.

Level 4: fully automated driving

In normal use, the car can drive autonomously and make journeys autonomously in defined use cases (e.g. on a motorway or in a multi-storey car park). In the level before autonomous driving, the person at the wheel is predominantly a passenger. They can hand over responsibility to the system, but can intervene at any time, and they take over again after the fully automated journey. A level 4 car can, where necessary, stop safely by itself and may even drive without occupants in defined areas.

Level 5: autonomous driving

In the final expansion phase, the car makes fully automated and fully autonomous journeys. At level 5 there are only passengers who are not responsible for driving tasks, while the technology in the car masters all traffic situations without exception. On the road without a driver, autonomous driving means neither a driving licence nor the ability to drive is required, since the passengers are not able to intervene. The autonomous car may also make longer journeys without occupants.

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The specified fuel consumption and emission data have been determined according to the measurement procedures prescribed by law. Since 1st September 2017, certain new vehicles are already being type-approved according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), a more realistic test procedure for measuring fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Starting on September 1st 2018, the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) will be replaced by the WLTP in stages. Owing to the more realistic test conditions, the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions measured according to the WLTP will, in many cases, be higher than those measured according to the NEDC. For further information on the differences between the WLTP and NEDC, please visit www.volkswagen.de/wltp.

We are currently still required by law to state the NEDC figures. In the case of new vehicles which have been type-approved according to the WLTP, the NEDC figures are derived from the WLTP data. It is possible to specify the WLTP figures voluntarily in addition until such time as this is required by law. In cases where the NEDC figures are specified as value ranges, these do not refer to a particular individual vehicle and do not constitute part of the sales offering. They are intended exclusively as a means of comparison between different vehicle types. Additional equipment and accessories (e.g. add-on parts, different tyre formats, etc.) may change the relevant vehicle parameters, such as weight, rolling resistance and aerodynamics, and, in conjunction with weather and traffic conditions and individual driving style, may affect fuel consumption, electrical power consumption, CO2 emissions and the performance figures for the vehicle.

Further information on official fuel consumption figures and the official specific CO2 emissions of new passenger cars can be found in the “Guide on the fuel economy, CO2 emissions and power consumption of new passenger car models”, which is available free of charge at all sales dealerships and from DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH, Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, D-73760 Ostfildern, Germany and at www.dat.de.