15:49 23-12-2025

How Bosch and Cariad aim to deliver explainable Level 2/3 autonomous driving by 2026

Bosch and Volkswagen Group’s software arm, Cariad, are pressing ahead with joint development of autonomous driving systems that draw on elements of cognitive reasoning. Their partnership under the Automated Driving Alliance, formed in 2022, focuses on technologies for Level 2 and Level 3 automation.

The AI platform in development is intended to enable hands-off driving on urban roads, highways and motorways, and to provide fully automatic control on motorways. The software stack is currently undergoing trials in test fleets and is slated to be ready for series production by mid-2026. The cadence sounds ambitious, but for a stack already running in fleets, it reads as a measured push rather than a moonshot.

According to Bosch, the system will take on key cognitive functions: perceiving the traffic environment, interpreting data, making decisions and controlling the vehicle. Over time, the software is expected to parse complex scenarios and latent risks in a way that echoes human logic. If executed well, that kind of reasoning should make the handover between human and machine feel more natural and predictable.

The companies also note that the system’s architecture is being built with safety and transparency in mind: every AI decision must be explainable and traceable. The expectation is that these technologies will underpin new vehicles in 2026, broadening the scope of automated driving. A clear emphasis on explainability should help streamline validation and build driver confidence as the features roll out.