BMW Confirms: Facelifted 7 Series Drops L3 Autonomous Driving, Returns to L2

BMW officially announced that the facelifted 7 Series, launching in April 2026, will discontinue the Personal Pilot L3 autonomous driving system and instead rely on the more practical L2 driver assistance system.

The L3 system was introduced in Fall 2023 and first deployed on the 7 Series in March 2024, with an optional price of €6,000 (~48,600 RMB). However, its usability was limited—it could only operate on highways or at speeds below 60 km/h in dense traffic and did not support automatic lane changes. This limited functionality and high cost led to weak market demand, ultimately prompting BMW to remove it.

The L2 driver assistance system, priced at only €1,450, offers richer functionality at a significantly lower cost. Notably, it makes BMW the first automaker certified under UN Regulation No. 171, enabling hands-free driving on European highways and automatic lane changes through driver gaze confirmation. This feature is now available in Germany and select European markets.

BMW’s move highlights a strategic shift toward practicality, reliability, and cost-effectiveness, ensuring a more usable and stable driving experience for customers.