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BMW to Introduce Advanced City Driving Assistance in 2027: Motorway-to-City Automation Coming to New Models

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BMW is preparing to take its driver assistance technology into a new environment. Starting in 2027, the German automaker plans to introduce navigation-guided, partially automated driving in urban areas, allowing selected BMW models to assist drivers with complex city manoeuvres, including turning, changing lanes, navigating roundabouts and responding to right-of-way situations.

The new technology represents a significant expansion of BMW’s existing Level 2 driver assistance capabilities. By combining its Motorway Assistant and City Assistant systems, BMW aims to offer a continuous assisted-driving experience that follows the navigation route from motorways and country roads directly into city traffic.

Germany will be the first market to receive the new functionality, with a gradual international rollout planned afterwards.

BMW Brings Partially Automated Driving Into City Traffic

Until now, advanced navigation-guided driving assistance has primarily focused on motorway environments. BMW wants to change that by extending its technology to the considerably more demanding conditions of urban driving.

With active route guidance through BMW Maps, the upcoming system will be able to support drivers during several everyday city-driving situations. These include turning manoeuvres at intersections, changing lanes in urban traffic, recognising and responding to right-of-way situations, and navigating roundabouts.

The technology will also build on existing City Assistant capabilities. In Germany, for example, the system can already support automated stopping and restarting at traffic lights.

The objective is to create a more seamless driving experience in which driver assistance remains available throughout an entire journey, rather than being limited to specific road types.

BMW emphasises, however, that these functions remain classified as SAE Level 2 driver assistance. The driver must therefore remain attentive and responsible for the driving task at all times. The system is designed to provide assistance, not replace the person behind the wheel.

Which BMW Models Will Receive the New Technology?

BMW has confirmed that the technical hardware required for the new driver assistance functions will be installed as standard in several upcoming and existing model lines.

The compatible vehicles include:

  • New BMW iX3
  • BMW iX4
  • All model variants of the BMW X5
  • All model variants of the BMW 3 Series
  • All model variants of the BMW 7 Series

An important advantage for customers is that the necessary hardware will already be present in the vehicles. This means owners will be able to activate the available assistance functions even after purchasing their cars, without requiring additional hardware installations.

The corresponding software will be delivered through over-the-air updates, allowing BMW to introduce the new capabilities remotely.

The initial rollout is scheduled to begin in Germany in 2027, subject to the completion of the remaining regulatory approval process. Other markets will follow progressively.

BMW Symbiotic Drive: Driver and Vehicle Working Together

One of the central elements of BMW’s new urban driving assistance technology is BMW Symbiotic Drive, a system designed to make interaction between the driver and the vehicle more natural and intuitive.

Rather than requiring drivers to surrender control completely when assistance is activated, BMW allows them to continue influencing the vehicle’s behaviour through their own driving inputs.

Drivers can accelerate, steer and brake according to their individual preferences while the assistance system remains active. The technology is designed to recognise these inputs and coordinate them with the vehicle’s automated assistance functions.

BMW says this cooperative approach is a fundamental part of its next-generation Level 2 driver assistance systems.

The same philosophy also extends to active safety technologies, including Lane Keeping Assist. By analysing steering behaviour and the driver’s gaze direction, the vehicle can better understand the driver’s intentions.

Consequently, steering interventions and warnings can be more precisely targeted at situations in which the vehicle detects unintended lane departure or an imminent collision.

The idea is to make driver assistance less intrusive while maintaining an appropriate level of safety support.

BMW Panoramic iDrive Makes Assisted Driving Easier to Understand

The introduction of more advanced driving assistance functions also requires a clear and intuitive interface. BMW is addressing this through its latest Panoramic iDrive operating concept.

When partially automated driving is activated, situation-specific information will be presented directly within the driver’s field of vision through BMW Panoramic Vision.

This allows drivers to monitor the status of the assistance systems without having to repeatedly look away from the road towards the central display.

BMW is also introducing a new navigation interface called BMW Maps with Driver Assistance. Displayed on the central screen, it combines navigation guidance, information about the vehicle’s surroundings and the status of the active driver assistance systems into a single three-dimensional visualisation.

The interface is designed to make complex urban driving situations easier to understand.

It displays the next navigation instruction, illustrates how the vehicle perceives its immediate surroundings and identifies which assistance functions are currently supporting the driver.

By bringing this information together, BMW wants to make partially automated driving more transparent and easier to follow, particularly in demanding urban environments.

Regulatory Approval and Safety Testing

Before the new technology reaches customers, BMW must complete the necessary regulatory approval procedures.

The upcoming driver assistance systems will be type-approved in accordance with the updated UNECE R171 regulations, specifically the DCAS Series 2 requirements governing Driver Control Assistance Systems.

BMW has confirmed that the necessary real-world traffic tests have already been successfully completed by an independent technical service.

According to the company, the technical requirements for approval have therefore been met, with official confirmation expected in early 2027.

BMW has also filed several patent applications relating to the development of its new urban driver assistance functions, highlighting the technological importance the company attaches to this next stage of automated driving.

Joachim Post, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development, describes the expansion as a meaningful improvement in everyday driving comfort.

He explains that the technology will support customers throughout their navigation-guided journeys, from motorways and country roads to urban environments, while BMW Symbiotic Drive will allow drivers to make their own inputs whenever they choose.

BMW’s Next Step Towards Seamless Automated Driving

BMW’s planned 2027 introduction of navigation-guided urban driving assistance represents an important development in the evolution of partially automated driving.

The ability to combine motorway, rural-road and city-driving assistance into one continuous system could make everyday journeys more comfortable, particularly in congested urban environments where frequent steering, lane changes and intersections demand constant attention.

However, BMW’s approach is also notable for its emphasis on driver participation. Instead of presenting automation as a replacement for human involvement, the company is developing a system in which the driver and vehicle cooperate throughout the journey.

With BMW Symbiotic Drive, Panoramic iDrive and over-the-air software updates, the automaker is laying the groundwork for a more connected and intuitive driver assistance experience.

If the planned rollout proceeds as scheduled, Germany will become the first market to experience BMW’s expanded city-driving assistance capabilities in 2027, marking another step towards a future in which assisted driving extends seamlessly across almost every type of road.

Source: BMW

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Polestar Ends Production of Original Polestar 2 After Nearly 200,000 Sales as New Generation Prepares for 2027 Launch

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The original Polestar 2 has officially reached the end of its production run after six years and approximately 200,000 sales worldwide. The Swedish electric carmaker is now preparing its successor, which is expected to arrive in early 2027 with a redesigned exterior, a more youthful identity and an important role in the company’s ambitious growth strategy.

Polestar has built the final example of the Polestar 2, marking the end of an important chapter in the Swedish brand’s development. Introduced in 2020, the all-electric fastback was the company’s first series-production model and played a crucial role in establishing Polestar as a serious competitor in the increasingly crowded premium electric vehicle market.

Production has now ended at the company’s Luqiao manufacturing facility in eastern China, bringing a six-year production journey to a close. The decision comes several months before the expected market arrival of the second-generation Polestar 2, which is scheduled to make its debut in the first few months of 2027.

The production shutdown was initially reported by Norwegian media outlet TV 2 Broom after Polestar stopped accepting factory orders for the current model in Norway and Sweden. However, customers in other markets are not necessarily facing an immediate end to availability. Polestar UK, for example, continues to offer the existing model across its range, with the company understood to have sufficient inventory to satisfy customer demand until the arrival of its successor.

Polestar 2: Nearly 200,000 sales and a defining model for the brand

The Polestar 2 has been one of the most important vehicles in the company’s history. Since entering the market in mid-2020, it has established itself as a recognizable alternative to the Tesla Model 3, helping Polestar build its identity in the premium electric car segment.

By February 2026, global sales had exceeded 190,000 units, with approximately 40,000 examples delivered in the United Kingdom alone. The UK has become Polestar’s largest individual market, highlighting the importance of the fastback to the company’s international expansion.

Although the newer Polestar 4 has now overtaken it in the company’s sales rankings, the outgoing Polestar 2 remains commercially significant. It still represents more than one-third of Polestar’s UK sales during the first part of 2026, demonstrating that demand for the model has remained strong despite increasing competition and the arrival of newer products.

Its successor will therefore have considerable responsibility. Polestar wants to increase annual global sales from approximately 60,000 vehicles in 2025 to 100,000 by the end of the decade. A successful second-generation Polestar 2 will be essential to achieving that objective.

New Polestar 2 promises a more youthful design

Although Polestar has not yet revealed the complete design of its next-generation electric fastback, the company has already provided an indication of the direction it intends to take.

The new model is expected to be slightly longer than the current car, which measures approximately 4.6 metres, while adopting a more distinctive and youthful appearance. The redesign is part of a broader strategy to attract a wider customer demographic. According to Polestar, the average age of its existing customers is around 45, making younger buyers an important target for future growth.

Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller has indicated that the next-generation model will preserve the qualities that made the original successful while addressing areas where the current car could be improved.

In comments to Autocar, Lohscheller explained that the new Polestar 2 would retain the strengths of its predecessor while introducing improvements in areas that the current generation does not address optimally.

The design direction will be particularly interesting because the next Polestar 2 will be the first production vehicle shaped by Philipp Römers, who joined the company in early 2025, replacing Max Missoni. Missoni was responsible for establishing much of the visual identity of the brand’s current model range.

Formula 2030 concept will preview Polestar’s future design language

Polestar is preparing to provide a clearer picture of its future styling direction through an ambitious concept car called Formula 2030.

The concept is expected to demonstrate what the company describes as a bold evolution of its Scandinavian design philosophy. It will also provide early indications of the styling direction planned for the next-generation Polestar 2 and the upcoming Polestar 7 crossover.

Early indications suggest that Römers intends to preserve the minimalist aesthetic that has become a defining characteristic of Polestar vehicles. However, future models could adopt lower and wider proportions, more pronounced aerodynamic elements and sleeker body silhouettes.

Rather than introducing a radical departure from the existing design language, Polestar appears determined to evolve its identity gradually.

Römers has previously explained that a complete design revolution would be counterproductive for a relatively young automotive brand that is still building global recognition. His objective is to introduce a more confident and distinctive interpretation of Polestar’s established design values without losing the visual continuity that customers already recognize.

This approach should make the new Polestar 2 immediately identifiable as a successor to the original, while giving it a more contemporary appearance.

Will the next Polestar 2 use a new electric platform?

One of the biggest unanswered questions concerns the technical architecture of the second-generation Polestar 2.

The current model is based on Geely’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), a flexible platform shared with vehicles such as the Volvo XC40. Unlike architectures developed exclusively for electric vehicles, CMA can accommodate internal combustion engines, hybrid systems and fully electric powertrains.

The newer Polestar 4, meanwhile, uses Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), a platform developed specifically for electric vehicles.

Polestar has not yet confirmed whether the next-generation Polestar 2 will continue using CMA or transition to a different architecture. The decision could have important implications for packaging, efficiency, battery technology, performance and production costs.

Regardless of the platform choice, the new model will need to deliver meaningful improvements to remain competitive in a segment where technological development is progressing rapidly.

New Polestar 2 faces tougher competition than ever

When the original Polestar 2 arrived in 2020, the Tesla Model 3 was its most obvious competitor. However, the premium electric executive car segment has expanded considerably since then.

By the time the second-generation Polestar 2 reaches showrooms in 2027, it will face competition from established European manufacturers and increasingly ambitious Chinese brands.

Among its expected rivals are the new BMW i3, the all-electric Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and the BYD Seal.

This increasingly competitive environment means Polestar cannot rely solely on the reputation established by the original model. The successor will need to offer a compelling combination of design, driving dynamics, interior quality, range, charging capabilities and technology.

Another important consideration will be positioning. Polestar is expected to emphasize the new car’s fastback and saloon-like character, differentiating it more clearly from the Polestar 4, which occupies a similar size category but adopts a more crossover-oriented design.

A new chapter for Polestar

The end of production of the original Polestar 2 represents more than the retirement of an individual model. It marks the conclusion of the vehicle that helped transform Polestar from a relatively unknown performance-oriented brand into an established international electric car manufacturer.

With almost 200,000 units sold, the first-generation Polestar 2 has provided a solid foundation for the company’s future ambitions.

Its successor now faces a considerably more challenging market, with established premium manufacturers expanding their electric portfolios and Chinese competitors increasing pressure on pricing, technology and product development.

The second-generation Polestar 2 is expected in early 2027, and its success could prove decisive in determining whether Polestar can reach its target of 100,000 annual deliveries by 2030.

For now, the original Polestar 2 can take its place as one of the most significant models in the brand’s relatively short history.

Source: Autocar

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Mazda Targets Carbon-Neutral Manufacturing by 2035 with New Solar Energy Projects

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Mazda is expanding its renewable energy strategy at two Japanese manufacturing facilities, introducing solar power generation and battery energy storage systems to reduce carbon emissions and support its goal of achieving carbon-neutral global production by 2035.

Mazda is taking another significant step towards decarbonising its global manufacturing operations, expanding its use of renewable energy through new solar power projects at the Miyoshi Plant and the upcoming Mazda KD Center in Japan. The initiatives form part of the company’s broader strategy to achieve carbon neutrality across all its global manufacturing facilities by 2035.

The Japanese automaker is pursuing this ambitious objective through three main pillars: improving energy efficiency, increasing the use of renewable energy, and introducing carbon-neutral fuels. By combining these approaches with cooperation from industrial partners, Mazda aims to reduce the environmental footprint of its production network while supporting the wider transition towards sustainable manufacturing.

Mazda Expands Solar Power Generation at Two Japanese Facilities

As part of the latest initiative, Mazda will extend the use of on-site power purchase agreements (PPAs) to the Miyoshi Plant and the Mazda KD Center, which is scheduled for completion in November.

At the Miyoshi Plant, ORIX Corporation will act as the power purchase agreement provider and install solar power generation equipment. The electricity produced will primarily be consumed directly at the facility, helping Mazda reduce its dependence on conventional energy sources.

An important element of the project is the integration of a battery energy storage system using new automotive lithium-ion batteries. Rather than allowing surplus solar electricity to go unused, the system will store excess energy for subsequent consumption. This approach will improve the utilisation of renewable electricity while helping the plant reduce peak electricity demand.

The project also demonstrates how battery technologies developed for the automotive industry can find applications beyond electric vehicles, supporting more efficient energy management in industrial environments.

Mazda KD Center Project Supports Renewable Energy Across the Supply Chain

A second solar power installation will be introduced at the Mazda KD Center, with ORIX again responsible for providing the solar generation equipment.

However, this project also introduces an additional dimension to Mazda’s renewable energy strategy: extending the environmental benefits beyond its own manufacturing operations.

Toyo Kohan Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of steel sheet products, will utilise the environmental value associated with surplus electricity generated at the facility. This arrangement is designed to encourage greater renewable energy consumption across the regional supply chain.

By involving companies operating at different stages of industrial production, Mazda is looking to create a broader renewable energy ecosystem in which the benefits of clean electricity extend beyond individual factories.

Collaboration at the Core of Mazda’s Carbon-Neutral Strategy

Mazda believes that achieving carbon neutrality requires more than technological improvements within its own manufacturing facilities. Cooperation between companies, energy providers and industrial partners will be essential to accelerating the transition towards more sustainable production.

Through partnerships with ORIX and Toyo Kohan, the automaker aims to demonstrate how different technologies and business models can work together to improve energy efficiency, increase renewable electricity utilisation and reduce industrial carbon emissions.

The initiatives also reflect Mazda’s ambition to contribute to regional economic development and strengthen industrial competitiveness while addressing environmental challenges.

Source: Mazda

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