BMW to update BMW Maps and add 3D visualization of driver assistance systems
BMW will update the BMW Maps app for vehicles with BMW Operating System X next month. The new navigation version will combine the route, the car’s real-time position on the road, surrounding traffic and driver assistance system data in a single 3D view. The first vehicle with the updated system will be the electric BMW iX3 crossover.
InsideEVs reports on the update. On the vehicle’s central display, the car will be shown in its lane, while other vehicles will appear alongside it. This interface is intended to assist the driver when traveling on highways, at intersections and in urban traffic.
Route and assistance systems on one screen
The updated BMW Maps will overlay driver assistance system information onto a three-dimensional display of the road situation. The system will also show the planned route and the operation of safety functions. This approach is similar to Tesla’s 3D visualizations, where the screen displays the vehicle in its lane and upcoming maneuvers according to trip planner data.
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BMW said the dynamic 3D view is intended to make the operation of partially automated driving systems easier to understand. BMW developed the navigation system, while Mapbox is used for navigation data and mapping technologies. The service provides information on lanes, landmarks and other physical objects.
Availability will depend on the road
The feature will be available only with the current Highway Assistant or Highway & City Assistant systems — in designated countries, cities and on specific roads. BMW did not specify the list of cities and routes where the new interface will operate.
BMW iX3 owners can use the Highway Assistant 2 system, which allows hands-free driving on highways at speeds of up to 130 km/h. Similar capabilities are expected to appear in future i3 and iX5 models, as well as in the updated i7. In 2027, BMW plans to introduce partially automated driving with navigation guidance in cities in Germany, and later in other countries.
