Self-Driving Cars: Everything You Need To Know

Self-Driving Cars Quick Facts

• There are different levels of self-driving capabilities in cars.
• Many new cars driving on today’s roads offer some level of self-driving capability.
• Removing your attention from driving is unsafe in any car sold in the United States today.

The dream of the self-driving car — you get in, program your destination, ease the seat back, and let the car take you where you need to go. Read a book. Maybe take a nap or play a game on the in-car entertainment screen. Regardless, you will not need to watch the road. The car will get you there and back safely.

Are we there yet? If not, when will we be? Automation and autonomous driving are complex subjects. What engineers can safely deliver doesn’t always match what marketers want to sell.

As recently as 10 years ago, some carmakers, automotive pundits, and the news media were buzzing that fully autonomous vehicles were just around the corner. Reality laid waste to that prediction. Today, we know that it will be a slow slog to arrive at the moment when our streets are full of cars zipping around without anyone behind the wheel. We are closer than we were a decade ago; however, there is still a long way to go.

This guide will walk you through what you need to know about automotive autopilot, self-driving technology, and the driver aids of today and tomorrow.

• What Are Self-Driving Cars?
• Levels of Self-Driving Technology
• Can You Trust It?
• Do You Still Need to Pay Attention to the Road?
• Which Cars Have Self-Driving Capability?
• Level 4 Is Here Now, Sort of: What Is Waymo?
• The Future of Self-Driving Cars
• Government Loosening the Reins?
• Conclusion

What Are Self-Driving Cars?

Self-driving cars are vehicles that fully operate without human intervention. Still, when discussing automotive assistance systems’ terminology, no one agrees on what to call anything in this field. From engineering jargon to marketing speak, the lingo continues to evolve.

Roughly speaking, you can sort the technologies people might refer to as self-driving into two categories — driver support and automation systems. Read on to see how they differ.

SAE International, a global association of engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive, and commercial vehicle industries, has laid out a useful framework for thinking about self-driving systems. It lists them as levels zero to five. However, not every level is classified as autonomous driving.

• Level 0 through Level 2 offer driver support features.
• Level 3 through Level 5 offer autonomous capabilities.

1. Driver Support

Driver support technology reduces the workload on the driver. Today, most automakers sell various driver support systems, either as standard equipment or as car options. These include intelligent or adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and hands-free capability.

2. Autonomous Systems

Autonomous systems do the driving for you. Automakers today are pushing toward this technology. Waymo, a sister company to Google, is running autonomous ride-share vehicles in a few large cities. Zoox, backed by Amazon, has autonomous taxis in Las Vegas.

Levels of Self-Driving Technology

SAE sorts the technologies into zero through five levels (OK, even automotive engineers don’t always do the logical thing). However, not every level is classified as autonomous driving. According to SAE, Levels 0 through 2 are considered driver support features, while Levels 3 through 5 are classified as having autonomous capability.

Level 0

At Level 0, the car reacts only to the driver’s input. Even if it uses sensors to warn you of surrounding traffic, like a blind-spot alert system or a lane-departure warning, it still has no self-driving capability to correct or counter the perceived threat.

Level 1

At Level 1, your car can intervene slightly in an attempt to keep you safe. A lane-keeping system that helps to center you in a lane is a Level 1 technology.

Level 2

At Level 2, features communicate with one another, and more than one can be active simultaneously. An example of this autonomous technology is an adaptive cruise control system that adjusts your speed to keep you a certain distance from the car ahead while centering the car in its lane.

Level 2 systems are the most sophisticated technology sold on many cars in America. Some automakers describe these systems in ways that make them seem more advanced than Level 2 standards because they allow drivers to briefly take their hands off the steering wheel. Systems like Tesla’s Full Self-Driving and GM’s Super Cruise are considered Level 2.

Level 2 systems require drivers to keep their eyes focused ahead. Drivers must always be ready to take control of the car at a moment’s notice. Current Level 2 systems are only fully functional on specific stretches of highway.

RELATED: Adaptive Cruise Control: How Does It Work?

Level 3

At Level 3, the car drives itself under limited conditions, and the driver is not driving. However, drivers must remain aware and be prepared to take over. A Level 3 autonomous vehicle will manage speed and steering, negotiate curves, and follow a route. However, drivers must be ready and capable of taking control.

According to Honda and a few other reputable sites, the Honda 100 Legend Flagship car is the first Level 3 autonomous car. It was released in 2021 and is currently only available for leasing in Japan. However, Honda will release its O Series of electric vehicles in the U.S. in 2026 with Level 3 capability.

Mercedes-Benz offers its Drive Pilot technology in Nevada and California. Nevada-approved Drive Pilot can take over driving up to certain speeds. The system allows drivers to take their eyes off the road, search the Internet, or watch a movie. According to Mercedes-Benz, the system is available in its 2025 S-Class and EQS Sedan models. The self-driving system is available with a subscription of $2,500.

Level 4

At Level 4, the car can drive itself in a fixed loop on known roads. The rider is not required to take over driving at any time. These vehicles may or may not have a steering wheel or pedals. In some places, Level 4 driverless rideshare vehicles (like Waymo’s) are in limited use. But they are not yet approved for general use in any state. Tesla is hoping to unveil Robotaxis with production starting in 2026. Additionally, a Robotaxi test run is slated for Austin, Texas, in June.

Level 5

At Level 5, the car can drive itself under any conditions and on any road. These vehicles do not need steering wheels or pedals. At this point, Level 5 systems are theoretical.

Can You Trust Self-Driving Tech?

In 2023, Tesla recalled its Full Self-Driving beta technology in all its electric vehicles after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it was unsafe. Last year, NHTSA opened a probe into the carmaker’s software fix after receiving reports of 20 crashes involving Teslas that operated with the new Autopilot software updates installed under the electric vehicle manufacturer’s recall.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it opened the probe after receiving reports of 20 crashes involving vehicles that had the new Autopilot software updates installed under Tesla’s recall.

Tesla advertises its automation systems more than any other U.S. automaker. Still, its advertising materials state, “Autopilot and Full Self-Driving Capability are intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these features are designed to become more capable over time, the currently enabled features do not make the vehicle autonomous.”

General Motors ended its Cruise driverless taxi experiment after a pedestrian incident in San Francisco. The carmaker now plans to focus its efforts on Super Cruise (see more below).

Most self-driving systems currently for sale in the United States are SAE Level 2 or lower. Removing your attention from driving while behind the wheel of any car currently sold with this technology is unsafe. However, it is safe to briefly remove your hands from the wheel with Level 2 systems under certain conditions. But you should remain prepared to take over the driving at a moment’s notice.

Do You Still Need to Pay Attention to the Road?

Yes. Always. Even when using driving assist technology in Levels 0 to 3, you need to be prepared to take over driving at any moment.

However, when using low-speed applications, including self-parking features, keeping your eyes on the road or staying inside the vehicle may not be needed. For example, some car brands offer a self-parking remote that handles this maneuver for things like parallel parking.

Which Cars Have Self-Driving Capability?

Virtually every automaker selling cars in the U.S. today offers driver-assistance systems that can reduce the driver’s workload. These include adaptive cruise control, which can adjust speed to maintain distance from the car ahead, or automatic emergency braking, which can slow or stop the car to avoid hitting a vehicle or pedestrian or reduce the severity of a crash.

None of these systems are so reliable the driver can divert their attention from the task of driving, though.

Many manufacturers currently market systems up to and including Level 2 automation. This approach combines adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist into a system that requires the driver to keep their hands on the wheel but relieves some of the driver’s workload and stress.

A prime example is cruise control, with stop-and-go capability that allows the driver to negotiate heavy traffic without using the pedals.

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect from several of them.

Ford BlueCruise

Ford and its Lincoln luxury division introduced a Level 2 automation system called BlueCruise. Buyers can order BlueCruise on many new Ford and Lincoln vehicles today.

Like Tesla’s Autopilot and GM’s Super Cruise systems, BlueCruise pairs adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance. It allows drivers to temporarily remove their hands from the wheel while keeping their eyes on the road. BlueCruise automatically steers the vehicle using more than 130,000 miles of pre-mapped roads stored in the system. In BlueCruise-equipped cars, the driver’s instrument cluster switches to a blue background when driving on a road where the system can be activated.

Often, BlueCruise-equipped models also require an options package to make the system capable. Moreover, a subscription is necessary. A one-time subscription costs $2,495. You can also pay annually for $495 or monthly for $49.99.

General Motors Super Cruise

General Motors offers its own advanced driver assistance system, an SAE Level 2 system called Super Cruise. Like Tesla’s Autopilot, Super Cruise includes an adaptive cruise control that will speed up and slow down the vehicle to maintain a driver-selected distance from the vehicle ahead. It also has a lane-keeping system that centers the car in its lane even through curves in the road, and automatic emergency braking that stops the car in an attempt to avert a collision.

Super Cruise requires drivers to stay alert and keep their hands near the wheel. It includes a driver monitoring system that watches the driver’s eyes and warns them if their attention seems to be drifting from the road. GM says, “Super Cruise allows the driver to drive hands-free when compatible road driving conditions allow the feature to be available. But the driver still needs to pay close attention to the road. Even while using the Super Cruise driver assistance technology, drivers should always pay attention while driving and not use a hand-held device.”

You can find Super Cruise on various Cadillac vehicles and others like the Chevy Bolt EUV electric vehicle. Super Cruise is free for the first three years, and requires a $25 per-month subscription after that.

Of note, Super Cruise works only on roads mapped by GM. The company mapped at least 750,000 miles of roads in the U.S. and Canada using lidar mapping technology. However, GM is full steam ahead with its Cruise technology, fully developing Super Cruise to achieve Level 5 autonomy.

Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot and Distronic Plus with Steering Assist

Mercedes-Benz’s Distronic Plus with Steering Assist also combines adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering system. In keeping with Mercedes’ autobahn image, it functions at up to 120 mph and warns drivers if they are about to be passed.

Another feature, called Parktronic, allows drivers to follow the car’s commands under 20 mph as it self-parks the vehicle. The driver keeps control of the car with the gas and brake pedals. The driver needs to put the car in drive or reverse as it drives and steers itself into a parking space.

Mercedes-Benz unveiled its Drive Pilot technology as a Level 3 system for limited use in Nevada and California. The system can take over driving up to certain speeds, allowing drivers to do certain tasks and take their eyes off the road. According to Mercedes-Benz, the system will be available by subscription for $2,500 in its 2025 S-Class and EQS Sedan models.

How do you know when a Mercedes-Benz is using Drive Pilot? Turquoise blue lights illuminate around the headlights and tail lights when the system is in use.

Nissan ProPilot

Nissan markets its ProPilot as “a hands-on driver-assist system that combines Nissan’s Intelligent Cruise Control and Steering Assist technologies and includes a stop and hold function that can bring the vehicle to a full stop, hold in place, and can bring you back up to speed when traffic starts moving again.”

Newer versions use the vehicle’s navigation system information to slow for curves ahead and prompt the driver to adjust for posted speed limits. While it will keep the car centered in its lane, including on slight curves. However, the tech will not steer Nissans through curves like Kia’s, Ford’s, GM’s, or Tesla’s systems. Weather conditions also may impact the system.

PRO TIP: Kelley Blue Book editor Renee Valdes recently tested the Nissan ProPilot system in a 2024 Nissan Ariya Empower+. She says it’s simple and easy to use, noting it works like adaptive cruise control. However, while driving through heavy downpours or construction zones, the system automatically switches from self-driving to adaptive cruise (called Intelligent Cruise Control in a Nissan). When it’s safe, the system seamlessly returns to ProPilot.

ProPilot is available on several Nissan models, including the Ariya, Rogue, Leaf, Altima, and Pathfinder.

Subaru EyeSight

Subaru’s EyeSight system does much the same. It also has a pre-collision braking system that alerts the driver to an impending crash and applies full braking power to try to prevent it.

Tesla Autopilot and Full Self-Driving

Tesla markets its evolving suite of self-driving technologies more aggressively than any other automaker. This has led to some confusion about what level of automation Tesla cars are capable of. The electric car company sells the systems under two names: Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. Tesla has been in some hot water of late with NHTSA and the state of California alleging the carmaker exaggerated the Autopilot and Full Self-Driving capabilities. The bottom line: These are Level 2 technologies.

Autopilot

Autopilot is a traffic-aware cruise control system that accelerates and slows the car to match the speed of the cars around it, combined with a lane-keeping assist system that centers the car in a clearly marked lane. That’s all it is. The marketing name “Autopilot” may make it sound considerably more advanced. But it is similar to adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist systems offered by most automakers, like Nissan’s ProPilot or Subaru’s EyeSight.

Older Teslas use torque sensors in the steering wheel to monitor the driver’s attention level and promptly alert them if their attention seems to be waning. Newer models use a more accurate camera for the same purpose.

Full Self-Driving

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving is considerably more sophisticated. Despite its name, it does not possess SAE Level 5 self-driving capability. Full Self-Driving can park the car in a parking space, back it out of a parking space, and change lanes on its own at highway speeds. A more advanced system in beta testing can slow the car for stop signs and traffic lights and navigate highway on-ramps and off-ramps. Tesla regularly sends updates to this system remotely to cars currently involved in the beta test.

However, Tesla recalled its Full Self-driving software in 2023 to correct specific problems identified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Tesla’s Full Self-Driving does not allow drivers to take their attention off the road. Drivers may temporarily remove their hands from the wheel, but they should be prepared to take over driving at any moment.

Full Self-Driving is a costly option, even by luxury car standards. As of this writing, Tesla buyers can get a one-time subscription for $8,000 added to the total transaction cost, or subscribe to the option for $99 monthly. Tesla promises to revise it regularly, through over-the-air (OTA) updates, with the hope of eventually releasing an SAE Level 5 autonomous driving system to everyone who has purchased Full Self-Driving.

Volvo Pilot Assist

Volvo’s Pilot Assist allows the driver to set a preferred speed and distance from the vehicle ahead. It can then automatically change speed to maintain that distance and keep the car centered in its lane. However, Pilot Assist will warn the driver audibly and shut itself off if the road starts to curve or if it detects that the driver has removed their hands from the wheel.

What Is Traffic Jam Assist?

Currently, several car brands offer traffic jam assist, from luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW to mainstream names like Kia, Ford, and Honda. It’s basically low-speed adaptive cruise control with some degree of lane-keep assist. It operates at lower speeds (usually below 40 mph) and can bring the vehicle to a full stop and then start again on its own when traffic begins moving.

Audi is developing a more advanced Level 3 Traffic Jam Pilot that, it says, should allow drivers to remove their hands from the wheel below 37 mph. However, that system has not received United States regulatory approval.

Level 4 Is Here Now, Sort Of: What Is Waymo?

Hold the phone! Most carmakers are at Level 2 or maybe, what we will call, Level 2.5 (Super Cruise and BlueCruise). Is Level 4 technology even possible? Why, yes it is to a point. Technically, Waymo has been developing self-driving technology since 2009, when it was the Google autonomous driving program. It was nudged out of the nest by Alphabet in 2009 to become the separate entity, Waymo. It’s now hailed as the world’s first autonomous ride-hailing service.

Operating in a handful of cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta, you can hail a Waymo robotaxi using a phone app. For example, Uber lets you sign up for a trial through its app. Their areas of operation are on specific streets in urban areas. Up to four people can take a driverless ride to their destination. Others are also experimenting with the robotaxi enterprise.

The Future of Self-Driving Cars

Engineers from more than a dozen companies are testing self-driving systems in hopes of producing an SAE Level 5 self-driving car. It seems safe to predict the technology is coming.

But the engineering challenge of getting there is immense. A car that can drive itself on well-maintained roads may make a critical mistake on poorly maintained roads. What if a car that can react safely to normal traffic doesn’t react safely to unusual situations? A car that can do everything engineers ask of it may fail when presented with a problem they never considered (in one recent incident, a self-driving car in testing was baffled by a truck bed full of traffic signs being delivered to a construction site. The car had no idea what to do).

Beyond the engineering challenge, state laws (plus the District of Columbia) must adapt to decide safety and liability issues before self-driving cars become common.

The market will also have its say. Volkswagen unveiled a concept car that would charge by the mile for self-driving capability. Executives reasoned that as long as getting your car to drive you somewhere costs less than a train ticket to that same place, they could charge for using the self-driving feature. So, while some automakers hope to charge buyers upfront for automation, others may only make it available for short-term rental.

Lastly, there’s the matter of marketing. It’s already growing difficult to sort out what manufacturers claim their cars can do from what they can actually do. That will only grow cloudier as technology advances.

The Realities of Self-Driving Cars

One virtually impenetrable hurdle to a car population composed entirely of driverless cars has nothing to do with the forces arrayed against the concept. Once the fully autonomous car movement has overcome the complete mapping-of-roads task, conquered the overwhelming technology issues, sorted out the at-fault insurance questions, and vaulted the government regulatory lines to fill showrooms with nothing but cars that drive themselves, the industry must still contend with the public’s reluctance or inability to buy a new car. At an all-time high, the current average age of a car on U.S. highways is 12.6 years. And that’s the average age, which means a significant number of today’s roadworthy cars are older than 12.6 years. Consequently, if a buyer’s only choice were an autonomous car, it would take somewhere north of 13 years for all the cars with less than Level 5 capability to work their way into junk yards and museums. Because full autonomy requires cars that can communicate with each other (as well as communicate with infrastructure), cars that can’t will continue to foul up the autonomous order of things.

Government Loosening the Reins?

In December 2024, Reuters reported NHTSA was considering streamlining the process to allow carmakers to make it easier to deploy driverless cars on American roads. Several manufacturers have been attempting to get NHTSA to allow a limited number of cars without steering wheels and pedals on the roads. Will the government bend? Stay tuned.

Conclusion

Thus far, the path to self-driving cars has not been linear. Technologies have come from multiple sources and various disciplines, pushing the evolution forward. However, despite the wide swath of technology companies and carmakers working the problem, other factors beyond software development will ultimately keep autonomous cars stubbornly out of reach. Government regulations, insurance issues, the average age of cars on the highway, and more will conspire to hold back the autonomous tide regardless of the technological strides of the many shareholders involved. We are getting there; it just won’t be tomorrow.

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