- Stellantis announced STLA AutoDrive, STLA Brain, and STLA Smart Cockpit
- STLA AutoDrive will probably be a Level 3 hands-free driver-assist system that will not require the driving force to observe the road
- STLA AutoDrive, STLA Brain, and STLA Smart Cockpit will arrive in 2025
Stellantis used its 2024 Investor Day briefing held last Thursday to announce next-generation technology platforms to roll out across its brands, which within the U.S. includes Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat. The corporate said those platforms, STLA Brain, STLA SmartCockpit, and STLA AutoDrive, will mix to be the shape for the automaker’s future tech stack.
Notably, STLA AutoDrive makes the automaker’s newly launched hands-free driver-assist system obsolete lower than a yr after its introduction.
The announcement comes with questions that Stellantis has yet to completely answer.
STLA AutoDrive
STLA AutoDrive is the corporate’s latest hands-free driver-assist system. Stellantis said the system will feature each hands-free eyes-on-the-road and hands-free eyes-off-the-road functionality, making it a Level 3 driver-assist system.
Thus far, the one Level 3 hands-off eyes-off hands-free driver assist system on sale within the U.S. is Mercedes-Benz’s DrivePilot. It’s only available in specific EQS and S-Class models. GM’s Super Cruise and Ford’s BlueCruise systems are considered Level 2 hands-off driver assist systems, and each require the driving force to observe the road.
Stellantis didn’t provide any technical information on how STLA AutoDrive works, where it really works, how much it would cost, when or where the system will enable hands-off and eyes-off operation versus hands-off eyes-on operation, or the system’s features. It’s unknown which current and future vehicles will feature the system.
Stellantis quietly launched its rival to Super Cruise and BlueCruise called Hands-Free Energetic Driving Assist late in 2023. The system debuted without fanfare on the 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee and just became available within the 2025 Ram 1500. Stellantis has still not released a map showing which roads the map-driven system will and won’t work on, leaving consumers in the dead of night while ponying up for a $2,995 purchase.
A Stellantis spokesperson told Motor Authority, “Hands-Free Energetic Assist technology will proceed to be available for a time period as we rollout the STLA AutoDrive platform, an overlap that’s typical of the launch of recent technologies.”
Stellantis hasn’t said how long Hands-Free Energetic Driving-Assist will probably be supported or what is going to occur to the system within the long-term. STLA AutoDrive will probably be ready for production at the top of 2024 and arrive in cars in 2025.
STLA Brain
STLA AutoDrive will depend on STLA Brain, which is able to serve because the central hub for managing the vehicle’s electronics and software. The system integrates with on-board sensors and actuators while remaining connected with the cloud for over-the-air updates. Stellantis said STLA Brain will reduce the variety of ECUs in a vehicle by half to roughly 60.
STLA Smart Cockpit
STLA SmartCockpit is powered by STLA Brain and is alleged to integrate the vehicle with owners’ lives. Machine learning and AI evolve the system and learn a user’s preferences with a private profile that integrates with climate, navigation, entertainment, and control settings. The profile is linked to a cell phone and can enable users’ profiles to instantly integrate with any vehicle with STLA Cockpit and STLA Brain. The interface will feature a simplified set of menus for fewer clicks when accessing features, in response to Stellantis.
Like STLA AutoDrive, STLA Brain and STLA CockPit will enter production at the top of 2024 and the primary vehicles to feature the tech will arrive in 2025, in response to Stellantis.
This Article First Appeared At www.motorauthority.com
