Stellantis shelving level 3 driving

https://www.reuters.com/business/au...ce-program-it-downscales-software-2025-08-26/

this is unfortunate--this was one of the reasons I was leaning to the fabled potential maybe ramcharger over a powerboost!

[OK, that and that for has mapped something like 17 miles of non-interstate in all Nevada put togethr]

 

[MADDOG]

We need a picture attached to threads in this section so that it shows up on the main page.

I'll fix it but remember to post up a pic in this section's new threads you create.

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

I'm so glad to see these programs shelved. If you can't stay awake, keep your hands on the wheel, your nose out of your phone then just don't drive. Hire an Uber or get a driver.

It's an early Xmas miracle.

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

I agree ^^^^

 

[bcbouy]

my wife's tesla has this feature.i used it once to see if it could get me home from town,about 17 kilometers.it got me right up to my garage door.that was almost 2 years ago and I haven't used it since.neither has she.i doubt she even remembers it can do that.you have to actually have slight pressure on the steering wheel or it stops working,so you might as well be in full control anyway.useless feature.

 

[tjfdesmo]

Good Riddance!!

 

[KalboKalbs]

Great news!

 

[Docwagon1776]

I don't get the hate for self driving technology for those who want it. I don't, and don't want to be forced into it...but I also know people get old and this sort of thing can help maintain independent living. There's no public transportation worth a damn in most of the US and this can fill a real need for some.

 

[Dean2]

While I want no part of a car that drives for me, I can say for sure they would be safer and better than 80% of the people now on the road. In 55 years of driving, I have never had so many close calls caused by drivers paying zero attention. It gets worse every year. If you don't drive with your head on a swivel and expect the stupidist possible moves, you are going to get hit by the morons driving while focused on ten other things. Doesn't help that we have 10s of thousands of immigrants that bribed the tester to pass and have never driven anything more than a bicycle or ox cart.

 

[noren388]

Level 3 has been “just around the corner” for years now, but the real-world rollout always seems to hit walls. I’d still expect Stellantis (and the others) to keep trickling in driver assist features though - it’s usually a slow step-by-step thing rather than a big leap. If you like the truck overall, I wouldn’t let this news be the dealbreaker.

 

[Docwagon1776]

While I want no part of a car that drives for me, I can say for sure they would be safer and better than 80% of the people now on the road. In 55 years of driving, I have never had so many close calls caused by drivers paying zero attention. It gets worse every year. If you don't drive with your head on a swivel and expect the stupidist possible moves, you are going to get hit by the morons driving while focused on ten other things. Doesn't help that we have 10s of thousands of immigrants that bribed the tester to pass and have never driven anything more than a bicycle or ox cart.

They just made the test easier until everyone passed. I drilled parallel parking into my son because when I was young that was the thing that failed most people. They don't even do it in the practical test any longer. I asked the tester why when I went back to renew my license and he said too many people were failing it... No 3 point turn, either.

Off topic, but we had a large refugee population settled in our city and they got hit in the road as pedestrians *a lot* for the first few years. Especially at night, they'd play Frogger across a 4 lane and get smote with surprisingly regularity. The churches that were settling them finally started teaching them how to interact with traffic and it dropped off quite a bit.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Level 3 has been “just around the corner” for years now, but the real-world rollout always seems to hit walls. I’d still expect Stellantis (and the others) to keep trickling in driver assist features though - it’s usually a slow step-by-step thing rather than a big leap. If you like the truck overall, I wouldn’t let this news be the dealbreaker.

Mercedes has already launched it in a limited capacity in California. CA had passed laws allowing it to allow testing of self driving taxis, IIRC, so it's seeing it before the rest of the US. 1st responders are getting training on it in case the "driver" is medically incapacitated and they need to stop the vehicle to treat them.

 

[dochawk]

We need a picture attached to threads in this section so that it shows up on the main page.

My apologies; I hadn't realized that. I just assumed that it would pick up the lead picture from the link. I've added it.

If you like the truck overall, I wouldn’t let this news be the dealbreaker.

Being way ahead in mapped miles was actually part of the draw. GM has twice as much usably mapped as Ford (or is it three?), and Stellantis another multiple of GM.

Here in Las Vegas, other than the state's portion of the beltway and the interstates themselves, Ford barely has double digits of miles mapped. Boulder Highway, and that was about it last time I looked.

I can generally understand the folks that don't want it, and almost understand those opposed to drivers that need it--I don't think that automatic transmissions should be allowed on the driving test, and I'm less than convinced that synchronized transmissions and automatic spark advance should be allowed!

But when I'm not being crotchety, my statistical skills are sufficient to realize that the more automation we get, the more inadequate drivers we pull out from behind the wheel. I have no serious doubt that Tesla, Stellantis, and Daimler all outperform the bottom three quartiles, and probably even the bottom four quintiles. Not on every single task, especially when specifically concentrating for testing, but over the course of the year.

But that's not the only issue. Driving my wife's little trucklet with adaptive cruise control, I've found that being able to sit with out my leg actively working the accelerator causes less muscle strain, and letting the lane centering position the car, with my hand just hanging on the edge reduces that strain, too. And I have no delusions that, even though I don't notice it, it's not helping with mental fatigue too. I'm also able to spend a bit more time on my eyes looping through the mirrors.

It's not much of a big deal on short trips, but at a couple of hundred miles, the difference is noticeable.

We really don't need two daily drivers at this point. When we have simultaneous use for a vehicle, it's nearly always for one of my car events, to which I can take a classic!

The only real calls for a truck for me are:
1) I'm 6'2", and fit a truck a lot better than a car or trucklet, and
2) acquiring classic cars, and hauling them until they can drive on their own.

(we didn't even need a trucklet for her, but a) I can afford it, and b) she's always wanted one. Oh, and c), the step up to a truck is big for her back).


Anyway, after all of that, the reason I came over to post is that it occurred to me after a couple of days that the liability cost could be driving this for Stellantis. At level 3, most at fault accidents will be a product defect for which the manufacturer is on the hook. I don't think anyone really has a handle on how much this will cost, and I kind of expect them to trickle, rather than gush, into the market while the green visor folks keep an eagle eye.

Miles mapped and drivable at level 2 mean a lot more to me than level 3 or how long it runs--as long as it's available before my kids start eyeing my keys a couple of decades from now! (for my parents, it would make a huge difference in just a year or two . . .)

 

[Mlarv5]

With the electrical problems I have in my truck, that they consider normal, I don't want any part of a self driving vehicle. Simple things can cause issues, like cheap LED lights given off EMI so splattered it interferes with the vehicles electronics or other vehicles around them. From most of these smart sensors to keep people from bumping into things. My adaptive cruise smashing on the brakes for a truck half mile ahead heading off the interstate. People drive like crap now with this advanced stuff to help them drive like crap. The last thing I want to see on the interstate near me is a woman putting on makeup, talking on her phone, while the truck drives itself. Or the guy that sets the seat back and takes a nap, because they figured out a way of tricking the sensors inside the vehicle, to make it think they are paying attention.

Electronics work great right up until the point they don't.

 

[Docwagon1776]

The last thing I want to see on the interstate near me is a woman putting on makeup, talking on her phone, while the truck drives itself.

They are already doing that, just "driving" with their knee or elbow.

I pulled a woman over for suspected DUI and she was eating a bowl of chili while driving. Not like a disposable bowl or tupperware, either. Full on ceramic kitchen bowl and metal spoon.

 

[Mlarv5]

They are already doing that, just "driving" with their knee or elbow.

I pulled a woman over for suspected DUI and she was eating a bowl of chili while driving. Not like a disposable bowl or tupperware, either. Full on ceramic kitchen bowl and metal spoon.

Yup back in 1993 I was driving home from working mid's. I stopped at a light in my 1968 Mustang coupe. Next thing I know I get hit in the rear. I called the cops, after I made sure the young lady that hit me was alright. the officer got there and asked what happened. I said I was stopped for the red light, and she just rear ended me. He asked her and she said my tail lights weren't working. The officer asked if she was doing anything else like putting on makeup. She said nope, and asked her if she always wears lip stick from her lip up to her ear. I got the meanest look from her for not saying anything. The officer just laughed and gave her the ticket.

I know they are doing it now but, how much worse will it be when they figure out the vehicle will drive itself?

 

[Docwagon1776]

I know they are doing it now but, how much worse will it be when they figure out the vehicle will drive itself?

How would it be worse? The people doing this lack forethought, they aren't thinking of what if things go wrong, and as you yourself experienced it's not a new thing or a tech thing. At least now they'll have another lay of safety if they elect to use self driving or assisted driving.

The stupid touch screen controls for everything are more dangerous than this technology. Why they think it's a good idea to force you through touch screen menus to adjust your HVAC vs a simple knob is beyond me.

 

[Mlarv5]

I agree the touch screen idea is a pain. I do like a dial or push button you can see, not just a little picture to show what they do.