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This was a new one on us too, but BMW engineering director Dr. Mihiar Ayoubi, in a fireside chat at the IAA Munich auto show with Qualcomm Automotive general manager Nakul Duggal, announced that the BMW iX3—the advanced driver-assist system for which the two companies collaborated to develop, has been the first to receive U.N. Regulation 171 certification.
What Is DCAS Certification?
U.N. ECE Regulation No. 171 (DCAS) went into force in the European Union in September 2024, and applies to all new vehicles offering “SAE level 2” driver assist systems (those that provide both lateral and longitudinal control of the vehicle where the driver must remain responsible and monitor the system at all times). To receive type approval (required for legal sale in the EU), the company must submit detailed technical documentation of performance testing. Once approved, an approval number is issued.
Four Tenets of DCAS
Companies must demonstrate that their assist systems do the following:
- Obey traffic rules–The system must ensure compliance with all applicable road traffic laws (speed limits, lane-keeping, signaling, etc.) during operation.
- Monitor driver attention—The system must reliably detect driver distraction or disengagement (generally by using driver-monitoring cameras) and dissuade it with escalating alerts.
- Remain controllable in failure—In the event of a system fault, DCAS must keep the vehicle in a safe, controllable state, giving the driver the ability to intervene immediately.
- Transparent driver communication—The system must clearly inform the driver about its operational status, functional boundaries, and limitations, and must issue timely takeover requests when human intervention is needed (e.g., approaching a situation the DCAS cannot handle).
All Will Comply, BMW Was First
BMW’s assist system is a really good one, and we applaud its many new features and functionalities. But the fact that it managed to gain certification first, as Dr. Ayoubi claims, is more a question of propitious program timing than exemplary system performance. Still, it’s good to know about new regulations like this.
