Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep, Dodge, and Ram, has announced its first "hands free, eyes off" partial autonomous driving feature, called STLA AutoDrive. This Level 3+ system allows drivers to take their eyes off the road and hands off the steering wheel in certain slower speed situations, such as stop-and-go traffic. However, the company has decided not to launch the feature immediately, citing market and regulatory hurdles.

According to Stellantis, the technology is fully developed and ready for deployment, but the company is waiting for the market to become more receptive. "The technology is fully developed and ready for deployment," said company spokesperson Dan Reid. "However, the current market for Level 3 autonomous driving is very limited. We have made the strategic decision not to launch it at this time. Once the market opens up and becomes more receptive, we will move forward with introducing this advanced technology."

STLA AutoDrive is designed to cover a range of driver assist situations, from hands-on Level 2 driving to hands-off, eyes-off Level 3+ driving. The system can be engaged even at night and in challenging weather conditions, but there are limitations. For example, drivers can only take their eyes off the road and hands off the steering wheel at speeds of less than 60 km/h (37 mph). Stellantis says the system is designed to evolve as the technology improves, anticipating that it will eventually be functional at speeds of up to 95 km/h (59 mph) and while off-roading.

The Level 3+ system is powered by an advanced suite of sensors, including cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors, which can clean themselves when conditions get dirty. These sensors are also used for features like blind-spot detection, lane keep assistance, and parking assistance. Stellantis is not alone in pursuing Level 3 driving, with other major automakers like Mercedes-Benz, Ford, GM, Volvo, and Honda also working on similar technologies.

However, experts have raised concerns about the safety of Level 3 systems, which can be dangerous given the need for drivers to stay attentive despite the vehicle performing most of the driving tasks. A recent study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that drivers are adept at skirting the rules that govern driver-assist systems, and that the handoff between an automated system and a human driver can be especially fraught. Fully autonomous companies, like Waymo, have expressed concerns about the dangers of Level 3 driving, preferring to focus on Level 4 technology that cuts the driver completely out of the equation.

Despite these concerns, Stellantis sees partial automation as a convenience feature rather than explicitly about safety. The company is likely waiting for regulatory frameworks to catch up with the technology before launching STLA AutoDrive. As the autonomous driving landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen when and how Stellantis will ultimately bring this feature to market.