Stellantis Unveils Advanced 'Eyes-Off' Autonomous System, Strategically Delays Launch Amid Market Concerns

Stellantis, the multinational automotive manufacturer spanning Europe and America, announced its first "hands-off, eyes-off" semi-autonomous driving feature, STLA AutoDrive, on February 21st. The system aims to help drivers "reclaim valuable time" during congested traffic conditions.

source: Stellantis

However, the company is holding off on immediate deployment, citing market and regulatory barriers. Stellantis has not disclosed which vehicle models would be the first to receive this technology.

"The technology is fully developed and ready for implementation," said Dan Reid, Stellantis spokesperson. "However, given the current limited market for Level 3 autonomous driving, we've decided to postpone the launch. We will proceed when the market matures and shows greater acceptance of this technology."

The STLA AutoDrive system will span capabilities from manual Level 2 driving to hands-off, eyes-off Level 3+ functionality. According to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), Level 3 represents conditional automation where drivers must be ready to take control when necessary but can divert their attention from the road under certain conditions.

The company states that its Level 3+ system can operate at night and in adverse weather conditions, albeit with specific limitations. For instance, drivers can take their eyes off the road and hands off the steering wheel only when traveling below 60 km/h. Stellantis anticipates that as the technology evolves, the system will support higher speeds and even function during off-road driving.

The STLA AutoDrive is supported by an advanced sensor suite including cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors. These sensors feature self-cleaning capabilities and enable functions such as blind spot detection, lane keeping assistance, and parking aids.