August 26, 2025 - Stellantis Disengages AutoDrive

This is the Telemetry Transportation Daily for August 26, 2025, and I'm Sam Abuelsamid, vice president of market research for Telemetry.

Despite the fact that we've been putting software and electronic controls into cars for five decades, it still comes as no surprise when we hear of legacy automakers struggling with the development of modern software systems. The latest is Stellantis. Earlier this year, the company announced the completion of AutoDrive, its level 3 hands-off/eyes-off conditional automation system. AutoDrive was developed as part of a partnership first announced in 2017 between BMW, Mobileye and the company then known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Stellantis has teased its system for several years and, as recently as one year ago, announced its intention to launch the system in 2025. Well, it now appears as though that version of AutoDrive will never come to market. So far, the only production program from the collaboration has been on the BMW 7 series, and that is only sold in Germany.  This L3 system would have allowed drivers to take their eyes off the road when driving in stop-and-go traffic on the highway at speeds up to 37 mph. The only such system available in the US is the Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot system, and that can only be enabled in California and Nevada. These speed and location limitations inherently limit the customer appeal of the technology, which would have required cameras, radars and a lidar sensor to operate. 

Stellantis told Reuters that it will instead develop new systems with the team from AIMotive, which it acquired in 2022. In addition to the cancellation of AutoDrive, Stellantis also recently ended a partnership with Amazon to develop a next-generation SmartCockpit platform for infotainment. There has been no word on the fate of STLA Brain, the new zonal electrical and electronic architecture it is developing with Foxconn. This E/E architecture will be essential for Stellantis to enable fully software-defined vehicles and over-the-air updates for all systems. Delivering advanced driving and software features will be necessary for Stellantis to start generating the much-desired subscription revenues that all automakers are counting on to grow revenues and profits in the coming years. However, before people subscribe, there will have to be products compelling enough to pay for.

Thanks for listening.