The German carmaker said the BMW iX electric SUV involved in the fatal crash was not an autonomous vehicle. The carmaker has already launched an investigation into it.
The BMW iX electric SUV test that resulted in a deadly incident earlier this week has been officially addressed by the German automaker. The electric car apparently went off the road in southwest Germany on Monday and collided with two other cars, killing one person and injuring nine others. Initial reports indicate that the BMW iX was in self-drive mode at the time of the collision. The Level 2 semi-autonomous driving assistance technology is a feature of the electric SUV, which was also introduced in India last year.
On social media, the accident’s pictures and reports quickly gained popularity. The self-drive system in the iX’s safety regulations have come under scrutiny. The BMW iX’s driver was reportedly travelling with four other passengers close to Romerstein in the Reutlingen region, according to local officials in Germany. It collided head-on with another vehicle, and a third vehicle suffered some damage as a result of the collision.
Local police authorities issued a statement saying an autonomous e-test vehicle of the BMW iX type was involved in the accident. “Our statement is based on the stickers on the vehicle that this is an autonomous e-test vehicle. We are in contact with BMW and an expert is determining whether it is such a vehicle or not,” said police.
Any worries about the EV’s safety have been allayed by BMW. In a statement released by the automaker, “The car incorporates level 2 driving assistance technologies, which are already present in production cars and may provide the driver with support if they so want. In level 2 vehicles, accountability always rests with the driver. Investigating the precise circumstances is something we are doing right now. Of course, we keep in touch with the authorities frequently. There is already agreement on one thing: The implicated BMW was not an automated vehicle.”
The Level 2 autonomous driving system helps the driver to brake and accelerate besides other assistance features like lane changing and adaptive cruise control. However, it also advises drivers to remain attentive keeping their hands on the wheel at all times.
